Dear Source:
I'd be interested in knowing why you think people living in the USVI who
have not lived here 5 years and, hence, are not "locals" according to the
"law of the land," should bother filling out the census form.
After all, these people are denied certain rights allowed only to locals and are, in essence, second class citizens, to wit: For a company to receive certain IDC benefits, it must hire a certain percentage of locals, correct? This means that a certain portion of people living in the USVI are discriminated against when seeking employment. I don't blame people in this category for refusing to fill out a census form. Why should they? Can you honestly say that these folks are a fully integrated part of the citizenry? Aren't they really just the people who must sit in the back of the bus? After they have met their 5 year residency rule, then, and only then, should they feel an obligation to fill out the census form. (By the way, I don't know if this 5 year rule has ever been challenged in court, but it is probably illegal, if not unconstitutional). I don't think your "ship out" edict holds water with this segment of the population.
Bob Meyerson
