Dear Source:
First I would like to thank the 1200 individuals on St. Croix United States Virgin Islands who voted for me as a candidate to the 5th Constitutional Convention on June 12, 2007. It was a historical moment for the Virgin Islands to focus more on self rule. The low turnout on Election Day shows a lack of education and national pride as a people, the different migration to and from the islands excluding self interest, political parties Democrats, Republicans and Independent Citizen Movements.
From dealing with the de-colonization process of the Congressional Act of 1976 public law no. 94-584 which authorizes the legislature of the Virgin Islands and the people of Guam, respectively, to call a constitutional convention to draft and implement within the existing territorial-federal law relationship for local self-Government of the people of the Virgin Islands and Guam, we must not loose focus in choosing a president for the 5th constitution and making sure he or she has the leadership skills which can educate and relate to the people on the different issues of the Constitution.
The Virgin Islands has one of the richest histories in the Caribbean, it was under seven different colonial flags and still today is underrated by most people and history books because most of its historical documents are in the archives of Congress and Denmark. A history dating back to 1493. Christopher Columbus second voyage, Europeans first settlement in the West Indies to 1671 when Denmark settled in the Danish West Indies is older than the United States Declaration of Independence of 1776. The Constitution of the United States of America Section two "which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons including those bound to service for a term of years and excluding Indians not taxed, and three fifths of all other persons." The Declaration of Independence was based on unalienable right or natural rights separating from England with its 13 colonies. Our struggle in the Virgin Islands for Fundamental Rights is different than the black man struggle in the United States of America. President Abraham Lincoln Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 which the act is based upon, started from the Dred Scott Decision of 1857 one of the most important and controversial Supreme Court decision in American history when it comes to the black man. Abraham Lincoln Emancipation Proclamation some people sincerely believe to be an act of justice, others warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity to save the Union from a civil war with the south and the north. When Congress implemented the 13, 14, and 15 Amendments the South vigorously opposed and went to war against North. The Jim Crow Laws, Poll Tax, Privileges and Immunities Clause, Slaughter House Cases, Ku Klux Klan, Democratic Party and Confederates Flag were all the South plans to opposed congress.
Martin Luther King struggle came a hundred years after the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War for civil rights, human rights, citizen's rights, and fundamental rights for the black man in America in the south and the struggle continues today with Affirmative Action. Thus, Georgia became the last state to be readmitted to the union in 1870. The north was the free states in the union for slaves and run away slaves and sharecroppers. When it comes to writing the United States Virgin Islands constitution it is important to know United States major political documents and history and also Virgin Islands major political documents and history. From 1671 to 1848 the Danish West Indies experienced full blown chattel slavery with the triangle slave trade from West Africa Ghana to the Danish West Indies to Denmark with commodities, labor, and no fundamental rights. Then the 1848 Emancipation with General Buddhoe to the Labor Act of 1849 sent the slaves back to their plantation. From there we had 1852 Colonial Law and the Revised Colonial Law of 1865 that made Charlotte Amalie the capital of the Danish West Indies. Charlotte Amalie's name came from King Christian V wife. The Danes thought it was fitting to make St.Thomas the Capital because of its harbor and trading of commodities. Life did not change much until 30 years later with the Fire Burn of 1878 and Oct 1st Contract Day with Queen Mary. Most of the rebellions took place on St. Croix and in 1733 on St. John for fundamental rights of black people. On St. Thomas Queen Coziah's coal workers strike at Hassle Island was instrumental in St. Thomas history in 1898 and also Rothschild Francis struggle against the Navy Rule in the 1920's for the coal workers fundamental rights. The Revised Colonial Law of 1906 was implemented after the Fire Burn of 1878. That Colonial Law of 1906 is what the United States included in the Treaty Acquisition of 1917 placing the Virgin Islands under Navy rule for 19 years until 1936 Organic Act that was based on International Suffrage and the Bill of Rights. David Hamilton Jackson and the Labor Union of 1915 and the Herald fought against the 1906 Colonial Law for fundamental rights. Today we are governed by the Revised Organic Act of 1954 that was written by Congress and have lots of out dated amendments, act, and laws. After 53 years, the Fifth Constitution Convention is crucial to update when it comes to Bill of Rights, Citizenship, Legislative Reform, Tax Reform, Excise Tax, Gross Receipt Tax, Income Tax, Export Tax, Property Tax, Jones Act Tax, Monroe Doctrine Tax and many more taxes under United States Sovereignty.
So Delegates best of luck to all of you. Our forefathers have set pace and you don't need to re-invent the wheel. Your work is cut out for you and political leaders don't forget to reinstate the status commission.
Percival "Tahemah" Edwards
St. Croix
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