Dear Source:
I have to agree with Christopher Angel that the Virgin Islands government has almost complete disregard for the welfare of the citizens of St John. Not only has DPNR allowed a near impossible site to be developed on Bordeaux, it has callously disregarded the wishes of the citizens of that area and the rest of St John for many years in many ways. The Grand Bay project was opposed from the beginning but it fell on deaf ears. Serenusa was opposed from the outset and again opposed when the developers wanted even more from a still illegal development. The Senate turned its back on St John yet again by allowing a precarious zoning allowance for Serenusa over the overwhelming objections of citizens, DPNR and the Governor. There is little doubt then that money talks and the citizens and the environment come in second.
There are several more instances of disregard and outright stupidity. Enighed Pond took over 20 years to develop after the government received, then squandered the money. Even now a huge plot of land adjacent to the Enighed Terminal sits idle while parking issues plague Cruz Bay. Poor planning is the cause and the latest from the Port Authority is it will cost 6 million to make the land suitable for any purpose-money they don't have and most likely won't ever have. The Creek sits idle as it now becomes a virtual taxi parking area. No plans as of yet-more than likely ever will. Heck, let's make it a permanent carnival ground!
The so-called "roundabout" was promised to begin by February of 2008. To date the government still doesn't have a contract and the old Texaco, which could have remained open to serve St John, has been closed for well over a year. We never needed a "roundabout" we needed to move the diesel pump, a telephone pole and we could have had a crossroad. Again poor planning. Even if the project started today, it would take two years to complete with half the roads in Cruz Bay closed for all that time. What citizens wanted was a town by-pass to alleviate traffic in Cruz Bay. That plan was never even considered save the new Bethany road which is rarely used and poorly installed. We need to by-pass trucks which are eating up our roads. Roads by the way, which are rarely repaired or even striped for safety. The so-called "Park Renovation" has been on the books for nine years and three administrations and still no contract. Precious public land is being leased to private rather than public uses and the list goes on and on….
Recreational facilities are falling apart, the schools are crumbling, few sports or other programs exist for our youth, decisions about even basic planning is non-existent and unchecked development is overwhelming our infrastructure yet developers are allowed to build and build without any plans for infrastructure or utility enhancements.
WAPA bills rise, property taxes and land values are increasing beyond the means of the majority of St Johnians and services continue to dwindle. It is no wonder that most St Johnians feel disenfranchised as an island. And now the slap in the face is the idiotic Bordeaux development. What's next?
Do we need a planner? Sure, but whoever is chosen (there is a rumor that one actually might be hired) will work for DPNR! The very agency that has allowed permitting for all these environmentally unwelcome and un-wanted projects is now going to plan for us! As one old 1950's TV show proclaimed: "What a revolting development this has turned out to be".
The reality is, the average St Johnian can tell you what we need yet we are rarely consulted and if we complain or protest, it seems we are wrist-slapped for being bad. Maybe "revolt" is just what we need. At a minimum, a complete moratorium on building until we can figure just how bad things are. The government apparently could care less about the welfare of St Johnians while the environmental problems continue to mount-up with no relief in sight. Some say: "Ok, we'll vote them out"! Has that ever changed anything in the past? Let's face it folks, the government's view of St John is that we are an outpost where bad police go, funding is lacking, plans are a joke but it's a nice place to go to get away from the over-crowded St Thomas. I wonder when even that idea will change.
Paul Devine
St. John
Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.
