I would have never thought that I would have seen elements of "tea partyism" in the Virgin Islands given that beyond the libertarian ideology it espouses, there is also an element of racism at its core, but I have to wonder if it hasn’t infected our populace as well.
As I see the "tea party" folks, they have been so aroused into blind anger by some of the rhetoric against President Obama’s agenda that they not listening to/not hearing the facts of the issues they are railing against. They are acting irrationally and against their own best interests.
This is not being submitted on behalf of the governor or any private interests. I do not work for Diageo or Fortune Brands. I work with this governor as I have sought to do with every administration during my tenure on the Hill. There are issues that we agree on and there are those where we do not. As I did with Gov. Turnbull and Gov. Schneider, I try whenever possible to keep the disagreements between us. Some I commit to writing. When obstacles are put in the way of direct collaboration, I continue to work with their staff or lobbyists.
What generated this op-ed are the continued attacks by some Virgin Islanders against the Diageo and Fortune agreements – agreements which were negotiated against the backdrop of serious global competition and duly ratified by the V.I. Legislature.
What elevates my concern is that some of the attacks are coming from elected officials who have a responsibility to provide for the needs of the people of our territory.
The agreement is in place, the buildings are going up at record speed, and the territory has already borrowed on those agreements. Whether we agree with the terms or not is irrelevant now. What is relevant is that Virgin Islanders need to stand for the Virgin Islands and for those of us who live here — many of whom are suffering under heavy financial burdens, compromised services and long-term unemployment.
For Virgin Islanders, the fight that the Puerto Rican coalition (not the Puerto Rican people) is waging, is not so much about Diageo or Cruzan Rum or even Gov. DeJongh; and the sooner all of us see that the better.
If it was only about them, I might not be so determined in my efforts to save the agreements. I have made it my fight because it is about future revenues coming to us once Captain Morgan rum is produced here and Cruzan Rum increases production. The core issue is ensuring that there are increased and new revenues coming into the territory to provide more jobs, improved services and a better quality of life for Virgin Islanders; that the South Shore will finally be cleaned up and hopefully the marine environment restored at least in some part to a viable fishery; and that we would have the funds to provide decent and deserved salaries for government workers, secure the pensions of our retirees, provide nurturing environments in our schools, expand health care services and meet other needs.
Working against these agreements works against ourselves and our future.
So the people of the V.I. have a decision to make: Are we going to be like Tea Partyers, biting off our nose to spite our face, or are we going to set our personal conflicts and petty (or even significant) disagreements and politics aside, and unite for the Virgin Islands against all who would destroy, not just our economy, but the dreams of our ancestors for us, and ours for our children?
I hope so! The alternative is not acceptable!
Donna M. Christensen
V.I. Delegate to Congress
