Dear Source,
I want to lend my whole-hearted support to the effort being made by Robert Hoffman and Joe St. Martin. (See "Election reform lawsuit sparks racism charges".) It has been business as usual for far too long in our territory, and these two well-respected businessmen have finally come up with a creative solution which can offer the first glimmer of real change to the problems of the Virgin Islands.
Charges of racism are a predictable response by those seeking to maintain the status quo; playing the "race card" is a glaring example of the powers-that-be trying to protect themselves while the school children, teachers, hospitals, police, business owners and residents of the islands are suffering terribly from a government which looks for easy and quick solutions to long-standing problems while looking out only for themselves.
I am saddened by the lack of outrage at what is being force fed to all our citizens and am at the same time thrilled that there are people willing to "think outside the box" and suffer the slings and arrows of public opinion to try and find a way out of the mess that we are in. I wish these two men every success in their efforts. They should have all our respect for what they are trying to do. Real change never comes easily, but it can come, and we will all benefit from their vision.
Sue Seibel
Chicago and St. Croix
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