Dear Source:
I was one of many sitting in at the St. John town meeting about our tax re-evaluations. I commend Roy Martin and his staff, the Lt. Governor, etc., for taking the time to come to St. John and meet with a crowd that was clearly upset.
What is clear, is that the government is hungry for capital. Why would they create a separate standard for St. John, when St. John was always linked to St. Thomas as one district? Someone, I don't know his name, asked what the "windfall" would be, should this tax go through, and the answer was about $10 million. Given the reason why we're doing this in the first place, is that we're mandated to do this by law. Then, if that's the case, why couldn't we pay less? The answer is the first statement in this paragraph.
We have a government that is "bloated" from the top down, the very top! I wanted John DeJongh as governor. I believe, given the chance, he will do positive things for these islands. I also want to know, why he hasn't spoken out against the illegal acts (act6905) of the prior administration that boosted his salary to $150,000/ year, his Lt. Governor's salary, as well as all the senators. Having said that, he also increased salaries for incoming executives, who have not proved themselves worthy of raises. Also, the many who have salaries between $65 and $100 thousand per year in the system. I write this, because I know these "executives" could not receive these salaries in the private sector, because they don't exist, let alone have pensions and medical insurance and "perks" that go along with the job.
The tax re-evaluations are about money, money the government does not have and at this moment is hemorrhaging, spending money it doesn't have. The government needs to spread the diffulculty throughout all the islands, not just St. John. And, they really need to get their act together. Find a way to shrink this over-bloated government!
One more thing. If they do this to St. John, it will have the right to become its own entity, no longer be attached to St. Thomas, with all the rights that come with such a move. It's clear, this government does not want that to happen!!!
George Hollander
St. John
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