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Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchives'Endangered Tree Boas Found Dead Near Armory,' Wow!

'Endangered Tree Boas Found Dead Near Armory,' Wow!

Dear Source:

I guess that the "environmentalists" of the VI have forgotten the fact that after Marilyn in 1995 the US and VI Governments "bull dozed" the entire area east of the Armory which had been "declared by the EPA/Fish and Wildlife etc to be the natural habitat of the tree boa. They were protected then too! The purpose of the destruction was to build low-income housing, which was hardly used. The part that was used, was used by people who never lost their homes and had no business there in the first place! It was a scam to live off the Government. What was supposed to be built as "temporary" was, in fact built as permanent with concrete foundations. There was never any intention of taking them down. They were built on land that was privately donated and dedicated to recreation for the people on the island and nothing else.
There was a cursory search of about two hours looking for tree boas just before the "dozers" went to work and tore up their habitat. Gee, none were found so none existed. How stupid was that?
It took several years of legal wrangling and many thousands of dollars to finally have the whole thing torn down and replanted as a protected habitat. The Governments, both US and VI, didn't care about the boa's then, why the big "to do" over two snakes "murdered". Where was the Government in 95'? Where was EAST? They lifted not a finger or a phone to head off the destruction!
The so called "environmentalists" on St. Thomas should hang there collective heads in shame over the 95' incident and do something constructive education-wise concerning the endangered species of the island so such mindless killing of endangered animals does not take place again.

John T. Wagner
Cape Coral, Florida

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