Dear Source:
Mr. James, your response to my letter didn't answer a number of questions I asked other than to stamp all over Senator Berry's character. You address that some of the ills that plague our communities are: "false rumors, silly gossip, malicious melee, and propaganda," then did not hesitate to turn around and add more to these very ills with your remaining comments.
Senator Berry would have never lasted as long as she has in Gov't if her character was anywhere close to what you insist it is. Myself, along with many of the voting public would not have tolerated that for such a long time. Senator Berry has a strong character and stands up to address and/or question things that need to be addressed and/or questioned. It is one of the reasons, she has lasted this long.
Do you have proof the rest of us don't seem to have, that shows that all the senators, OMB director, etc, did know who was selected for the 3rd Party Fiduciary contract before all this or are you just assuming so? Are you trying to say, the senators questions in the Legislature's meetings are just part of a performance act? Did I miss a previous news release that informed the public, prior to the release by the Vargrave/Jackson committee? When and where did you hear Senator Berry call Mr. Jackson's name in order to malign his character? Exactly which other person's characters, when, and for what reason did Senator Berry ever slander and malign?
I find it hard to believe all the senators would be asking questions if they already knew the answers. In watching many of the televised Legislature meetings I have thought the quality of questioning have actually been improving by a number of senators. Loyalty is not owed from one Gov't official to the next, however they must all work together. They have to have the ability to agree and disagree on topics, not just go along with the group for the sake of going along or belonging. Each need to have the ability to stand up to anything they think is not right on behalf of the people. Where the loyalty of every official is owed, is to the people of these Virgin Islands.
If you have proof that the senators and the rest of them as you put it, already knew who was selected for the 3rd Party Fiduciary before all this, by all means, give us the facts. I would be happy to have your source of more accurate information. I am sure many others would too.
Had Senator Berry not step up to dispel the rumors; it is the rumors themselves that would have maligned Mr. Jackson's character unfairly.
Carol Berry
St. Thomas
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