Dear Source:
We do not need to reinvent the wheel, do we? Therefore the de Jongh/Francis administration thus far has not demonstrated that it is not doing "business as usual" in this new administration. Is it that there is so much on the job training that we have to wait until half way through this administration's term to see some real improvement in the way our government is administered? I learned that there are Senators assigned as liaison to the White House and to Congress, which Senator is assigned as liaison to Government House? Considering our 27th. Legislature, I was hoping to see some real positive changes in the way it is organized and administered. One innovative strategy to our legislature would be sub dividing the standing committees in to sub-committees. Each senator would be assigned a committee or a sub-committee, therefore affording each senator an opportunity to demonstrate their leadership and fully exercise their duties as representatives of the people.
There is too much self-centeredness by these senators and not enough concern about their function as representatives of the people. That attitude hinders them from being able to seek the best ways to provide for the welfare of the residents of these Virgin Islands. There is need for us to have more of "we" and less of "I" from the senators. In the executive branch, we need to see some strong leadership; we need to see demonstrated the administration's vision of the direction we need to go to improve the quality of life for the majority of the citizens. We need to see demonstrated decisive leadership, morally, politically and spiritually. One of the underlying problems we face in government is the failure to respect and enforce our laws. If the present administration of our government would only advocate more law enforcement, we would see marked improvements in many of our social ills. We would see improvement in our education system, our healthcare system and our criminal justice system.
It is no secret that one of the major weaknesses in our government is poor management or a lack of good administrative skills. It behooves the current administration to set as a goal a management standard for the government and training requirement for all administrators. They need to undergo training in basic management skills and governmental administrative procedures before holding any executive position requiring management functions. Governor de Jongh, I understand is giving the district superintendent of the Education Department some authority to manage the school districts. Have the Governor examined the ability of the assigned superintendents to verify that they can manage such an enterprise? I believe that is reason we have so much problems in government, persons are assigned to position for which they have neither training nor experience. Some persons, due to their own pride and ambition seek to qualify themselves but unfortunately, the majority accepts the position and creates havoc with the subordinates, due to their insecurity.
The Governor assigned new police chiefs and assistant police chiefs, are they qualified or is there any plans for them to be trained to be effective in that assignment? Maybe it is politically expedient to appoint those individual regardless of their qualifications or lack thereof.
Have we put too much hope, have too much of a high expectation for the de Jongh/Francis administration? Is it fair to expect so much from them? Have we qualified them for the job?
Their success or failure is our success or failure. So let us work together, if they will allow us concern citizens some input in how they administer our government.
J. J. Estemac
St. Thomas
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