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July 26, 2008 – Yesterday in Frederiksted, at a fund raiser for OTF, our Governor stole the attention from the fund raiser and openly attacked and chastised 5 Senators who voted no for the Diageo Agreement as presented to the Legislature on July 9, 2008. Senator Russell the Democratic Minority Leader stated "I was very disappointed to hear the governor's attack on senators who disagreed with the Diageo Agreement as drafted." Is the Governor a grass-root Democrat or a Republican in disguise? He is actually using his office to attack democratic senators when they do not dance to his every tune. At a time when the Clinton and Obama camps are uniting for common democratic causes, our Governor is openly attacking and campaigning against Democratic Senators. The Governor claimed to be confused, stupefied, and perplexed by the senators' vote on the agreement.
However, I am confused that the Diageo agreement is more important than prioritizing and subsidizing WAPA to reduce the burden of our WAPA bill and offering solutions to our energy crisis. I am stupefied by the fact that Diageo met with DPNR to work out their permits and the same special consideration and concessions were not extended to the hotel developments on St. Croix. I am perplexed by the inconsistencies of the taxing policies put forward by the administration especially regarding Delinquent Property Tax notices that needed to be recalled, our revised tax structure that taxes unimproved property at a higher rate than improved property, and the failure to collect property taxes for over a year and a half. These inconsistencies are pervasive and I hope the people can see the differences between Grass Root Democrats and Republicans in Democratic clothing.
Senator Russell pointed out, "We do not live in a Dictatorship and senators are elected to vote their conscience; we are not puppets on a string to simply vote as the governor wishes." "Certainly, the incessant attacks on senators who voted against his wishes out of concern for the people we represent, display a lack of leadership and professionalism, not expected of one elected to serve in the highest office of government," he stated. Nevertheless, the Democratic Minority and our Governor should and must meet to resolve our differences if this territory is to move forward in the spirit of effective leadership, cooperation and national unity exhibited by the national democratic party through Obama and Clinton.
