March 9, 2008 — The Constitutional Convention heads for St. John Monday and Tuesday, with three meetings planned at the Legislature Building.
The Committee of the Whole meets from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday, with Committee on Government following from 6 to 9 p.m.
From 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, the Committee on Suffrage, Recall, Initiative and Referendum meets.
Committee on Government Chairwoman Anne Golden urged St. John residents to testify at her committee meeting. She said St. John residents are passionate about change.
"There is a fire burning," she said.
Former Sen. Craig Barshinger, who serves as vice-chairman of the Committee on Government, said that if municipal government or island councils are to be included in the constitution, it would happen under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Government.
"Right now, we're finding out what people want. We're not in the telling stage, we're in the listening stage," he said.
He said the need for residents to have more say in government is particularly important on St. John, where many residents face property tax increases far above those on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
However, Barshinger noted that St. Croix resident are also interested in changing the form of government.
Anne Golden said that for years the people have asked their representatives to provide for local government, but this required an act of the U.S. Congress. She said that while resolutions were passed by the 26th Legislature and are now being considered by Congress, it was "high time" for this matter to be included in a constitution so that the people can finally design the democratic government of their choice.
Arnold Golden chairs the Committee on Suffrage, Recall, Initiative and Referendum.
He said that for years voters have launched initiative after initiative on local government, casino gaming, and reducing the size of the Legislature, and never achieved success.
Arnold Golden said the threshold to accomplish successful initiatives has been one of the most stringent under the U.S. flag. He said that it's time for residents to voice their concerns about this process and share their ideas for change.
"For years we have demanded election reform, and no major changes to the current system seem to be in sight. Efforts in the past year alone to recall members of the Legislature also failed because of the threshold requirements under our present laws," Arnold Golden said.
He said the present system of initiative, referendum, elections, and recall will only change when the people demand change in this Constitution.
Anne Golden said the Committee of the Whole will deal with procedural matters.
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