Dear Source,
I really got a kick out of the story about Gov. Turnbull firing his health commissioner for being insubordinate. From my point of view (as an insider and outsider), Gov. Turnbull should have fired Rudolph Krigger, after his testimony to the Senate that there was "no fiscal crisis" in the V.I., for being insubordinate to the people of the Virgin Islands.
With a $1.3 billion-dollar debt, to say that there is no fiscal crisis is a blatant lie and a grave disservice to the people they are supposed to represent. How long before the garbage haulers go on strike again? How much longer must the police and firefighters go on working understaffed, overworked, with antiquated supplies – all of which puts the people of the V.I. in danger? How much more will the schools deteriorate? How many private sector jobs must be lost to pay for a bloated public sector?
It was interesting to witness, once again, the unwillingness of the current administration to talk to the public, to keep them informed.
This administration has once again failed to keep its campaign promise of being open and transparent. The only thing transparent about this administration is the leaders' unwillingness to be honest with the public and deal in its best interest.
Nepotism and patronage are the battle cry of this administration. As long as family and friends are employed and overpaid, why worry about the health and welfare of the people of the Virgin Islands? As a historian, Gov. Turnbull should be cognizant of the saying "If we don't learn from the past, we are condemned to repeat it."
His actions clearly show he is willing to disregard that for the economic enrichment of his family and political supporters at the expense of the people of the V.I. If that is not the case, why does he not allow the truth to be told by the dissenting voice of those he felt qualified enough to appoint to cabinet level positions?
If the people of the V.I. knew how they were viewed by outsiders, they would be ashamed. My friends all laugh at what's going on there. And rightly so.
Scott Frank
Portland, Ore.
