Dear Source,
There is no such thing as "senseless shooting" or "senseless violence." Except for domestic violence whose reasons are so personal and obscure as to seem senseless to non-participants, all violence and shootings involve money from illegal activities and witness intimidation.
Such violence has diminished across America where prostitution, drug sales and other activities that are the causes of territorial battles for control of segments of the public spaces have been forced off the street.
Instead, in the Virgin Islands, we see officials in flagrant non-feasance of local and immigration law. We all see an increasing flaunting of such activity in many well-known areas.
It may be senseless to criminalize by legislation behavior we are prepared to accept in reality. The fact of criminalization creates high profits worth the while of some to shoot and kill.
Where stands the Legislature? The administration? The police? The churches? The Chamber of Commerce?
We either must enforce the law and clean the streets of prostitution and illegal drugs, or decriminalize these public activities. It is we collectively acting senselessly and these contradictions that stain our streets in blood.
Michael Paiewonsky
St. Thomas

Warren Knight on St. Thomas and Allyson Frorup-Matthias on St. Croix have been named Employees of the Year in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
Knight, a 20-year government employee, is a building appraiser in the Real Property Tax Division on St. Thomas. He was cited for his "exceptional customer service and teamwork." Frorup-Matthias, an 18-year government worker, is a real property records officer in the Recorder of Deeds Office on St. Croix. She was recognized for "compassion in dealing with customers, as well as a positive attitude and actions when relating to her . . . co-workers."
Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II said the honorees "demonstrate an exemplary knowledge of their job responsibilities and are always willing to go the extra mile."
May 22-26 has been designated Public Recognition Week, according to a press release from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

The Northside Sportfishing Club will host its Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament on Sunday July 16 at Hull Bay. Fishing starts at 5:30 a.m. and ends at 12 noon, sharp.
This biggest little fishing event in the Virgins draws the highest participation of any inshore fishing event of its kind, offering fishing fun and top prizes for competitors and charitable contributions that benefit community organizations, according to a release from the club.
Organized by the Northside Sportfishing Club, the event was first held in 1987 and has become a highlight of French Heritage Week festivities.
Coors Light and Snapple, distributed by Bellows International, Ltd., have long been the stalwart sponsors of this event, donating over $68,000 in cash and product during their ten years of principal sponsorship. Additional support is provided by Offshore Marine Services – who will donate a Caribe C-9, 9-foot 1-inch, inflatable dinghy with 8HP Yamaha engine for the Best Captain; FedEx – who is sponsoring angler hats, a live radio broadcast on WVWI Radio One and the $750 cash prize for Second Largest Kingfish; and Vitel Cellular – who donates the $2000 Largest Kingfish cash prize.
All anglers will receive an official Bastille Day/Guy Harvey T-shirt thanks to the combined sponsorship support of Coors Light, distributed by Bellows International, Offshore Marine and FedEx. In addition, several local resorts and hotels have donated overnight stays along with dinner for two, while Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is donating a week's cruise for two.
Part of the excitement of the Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament is that the event offers a fun-packed day for the entire family. It also offers camaraderie and friendly competition among contestants who are both men and women, and junior anglers. "We're expecting more than 350 anglers this year and are grateful for the positive response we've received from all our sponsors," says Monica Lester, tournament director.
Fishing is followed by food, drink, and entertainment by day, with nighttime awarding of top money and other prizes to many lucky anglers.
Entry fees are $35 for adults, $20 for juniors ages 8 to 16. Entry forms can be obtained from E&M Grocery, Bryan's Electrical and Neptune Fishing Supplies. A Captain's Meeting and registration will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday July 14 at Larry's Hull Bay Hideaway
Rewards will be given for the largest kingfish, but also those reeling in the largest jack, largest barracuda, largest bonito, largest tuna, largest mackerel and largest dolphin. In addition to best captain, there are also prizes for best boat, best female angler, best male angler, best junior female angler and best junior male angler. Awards and prize giving will start at 8 p.m.

The Northside Sportfishing Club will host its Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament on Sunday July 16 at Hull Bay. Fishing starts at 5:30 a.m. and ends at 12 noon, sharp.
This biggest little fishing event in the Virgins draws the highest participation of any inshore fishing event of its kind, offering fishing fun and top prizes for competitors and charitable contributions that benefit community organizations, according to a release from the club.
Organized by the Northside Sportfishing Club, the event was first held in 1987 and has become a highlight of French Heritage Week festivities.
Coors Light and Snapple, distributed by Bellows International, Ltd., have long been the stalwart sponsors of this event, donating over $68,000 in cash and product during their ten years of principal sponsorship. Additional support is provided by Offshore Marine Services – who will donate a Caribe C-9, 9-foot 1-inch, inflatable dinghy with 8HP Yamaha engine for the Best Captain; FedEx – who is sponsoring angler hats, a live radio broadcast on WVWI Radio One and the $750 cash prize for Second Largest Kingfish; and Vitel Cellular – who donates the $2000 Largest Kingfish cash prize.
All anglers will receive an official Bastille Day/Guy Harvey T-shirt thanks to the combined sponsorship support of Coors Light, distributed by Bellows International, Offshore Marine and FedEx. In addition, several local resorts and hotels have donated overnight stays along with dinner for two, while Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is donating a week's cruise for two.
Part of the excitement of the Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament is that the event offers a fun-packed day for the entire family. It also offers camaraderie and friendly competition among contestants who are both men and women, and junior anglers. "We're expecting more than 350 anglers this year and are grateful for the positive response we've received from all our sponsors," says Monica Lester, tournament director.
Fishing is followed by food, drink, and entertainment by day, with nighttime awarding of top money and other prizes to many lucky anglers.
Entry fees are $35 for adults, $20 for juniors ages 8 to 16. Entry forms can be obtained from E&M Grocery, Bryan's Electrical and Neptune Fishing Supplies. A Captain's Meeting and registration will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday July 14 at Larry's Hull Bay Hideaway
Rewards will be given for the largest kingfish, but also those reeling in the largest jack, largest barracuda, largest bonito, largest tuna, largest mackerel and largest dolphin. In addition to best captain, there are also prizes for best boat, best female angler, best male angler, best junior female angler and best junior male angler. Awards and prize giving will start at 8 p.m.

Major Crime Task Force detectives charged Deshawn Harrigan, 24, of Hospital Ground, late Wednesday night with second-degree murder and illegal possession of a weapon in connection with the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Jason Carroll in downtown Charlotte Amalie Tuesday afternoon.
Harrigan's arrest came after hours of intense interrogation Wednesday afternoon and evening, a police source said.
During the hours of questioning, Harrigan reportedly told police that a friend of his and Carroll became involved in a dispute near the Main Street end of Drake's Passage. Harrigan allegedly got involved after Carroll wrestled Harrigan's friend to the ground. A fight that ensued between Harrigan and Carroll intensified to the point where a weapon was brandished and shots were fired, police sources said.
Shot in the chest and left arm, Carroll staggered across Main Street in full view of dozens of tourists and residents on the street, collapsed in front of Princess Jewelers and died a few minutes later. Witnesses said two individuals ran from Drake's Passage and fled the scene.
The murder weapon was recovered, a police source said Wednesday.
Police investigators reportedly also questioned the friend who had been with Harrigan, but since he was not involved in the final struggle in which the shots were fired, he was not charged.
Harrigan was escorted from the Investigation Bureau in Nisky Center around 10 p.m. Wednesday to be booked at Zone A Command in the Criminal Justice Complex. Details on bail were not available. It was expected that an advice-of-rights hearing would be held on Thursday morning.
WVWI/Radio One quoted unnamed sources as saying the fatal shooting was a difficult case to bring to closure with an arrest. "We spent hours up and down the block around Drake's Passage canvassing persons who may have seen the altercation — and came up empty. Persons are just not coming forward," one officer said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Police worked through Tuesday night and all day Wednesday evaluating evidence and information acquired in efforts to identify the assailant. Carroll, who had just completed his first year of study at the University of the Virgin Islands, was the son of Assistant U.S. Attorney James Carroll.

Major Crime Task Force detectives charged Deshawn Harrigan, 24, of Hospital Ground, late Wednesday night with second-degree murder and illegal possession of a weapon in connection with the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Jason Carroll in downtown Charlotte Amalie Tuesday afternoon.
Harrigan's arrest came after hours of intense interrogation Wednesday afternoon and evening, a police source said.
During the hours of questioning, Harrigan reportedly told police that a friend of his and Carroll became involved in a dispute near the Main Street end of Drake's Passage. Harrigan allegedly got involved after Carroll wrestled Harrigan's friend to the ground. A fight that ensued between Harrigan and Carroll intensified to the point where a weapon was brandished and shots were fired, police sources said.
Shot in the chest and left arm, Carroll staggered across Main Street in full view of dozens of tourists and residents on the street, collapsed in front of Princess Jewelers and died a few minutes later. Witnesses said two individuals ran from Drake's Passage and fled the scene.
The murder weapon was recovered, a police source said Wednesday.
Police investigators reportedly also questioned the friend who had been with Harrigan, but since he was not involved in the final struggle in which the shots were fired, he was not charged.
Harrigan was escorted from the Investigation Bureau in Nisky Center around 10 p.m. Wednesday to be booked at Zone A Command in the Criminal Justice Complex. Details on bail were not available. It was expected that an advice-of-rights hearing would be held on Thursday morning.
WVWI/Radio One quoted unnamed sources as saying the fatal shooting was a difficult case to bring to closure with an arrest. "We spent hours up and down the block around Drake's Passage canvassing persons who may have seen the altercation — and came up empty. Persons are just not coming forward," one officer said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Police worked through Tuesday night and all day Wednesday evaluating evidence and information acquired in efforts to identify the assailant. Carroll, who had just completed his first year of study at the University of the Virgin Islands, was the son of Assistant U.S. Attorney James Carroll.

The House Resources Committee Wednesday unanimously passed a bill seeking to clarify the process for the Virgin Islands and Guam to adopt a local constitution.
HR 3999 was sponsored by Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) and contains concerns raised by Gov. Charles Turnbull and other witnesses from the Virgin Islands that testified at the hearing on the bill last week.
"I am pleased that Chairman Young responded to our concern that his original bill eliminated the requirement that Congress had to act within 60 days of a proposed constitution that was submitted for approval," said V.I. Delegate to Congress Donna Christian Christensen.
Congress passed legislation in 1976, sponsored by then-Delegate Ron de Lugo, authorizing the people of the Virgin Islands and Guam to adopt local constitutions, however neither territory has succeeded in adopting a constitution. Young introduced HR 3999 to both eliminate the need for Congress to have to pass legislation to make changes to the Organic Acts for Guam and the Virgin Islands for non-federal matters as well as possible legal and perceived problems with the existing law that authorized the adoption of a constitution.
Christensen said that if Young’s legislation is approved by Congress her bill seeking to reduce the number of members in the V.I. Legislature would not be needed. Her bill is expected to come up for a vote in the Resources Committee after the Memorial Day congressional recess.

The House Resources Committee Wednesday unanimously passed a bill seeking to clarify the process for the Virgin Islands and Guam to adopt a local constitution.
HR 3999 was sponsored by Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) and contains concerns raised by Gov. Charles Turnbull and other witnesses from the Virgin Islands that testified at the hearing on the bill last week.
"I am pleased that Chairman Young responded to our concern that his original bill eliminated the requirement that Congress had to act within 60 days of a proposed constitution that was submitted for approval," said V.I. Delegate to Congress Donna Christian Christensen.
Congress passed legislation in 1976, sponsored by then-Delegate Ron de Lugo, authorizing the people of the Virgin Islands and Guam to adopt local constitutions, however neither territory has succeeded in adopting a constitution. Young introduced HR 3999 to both eliminate the need for Congress to have to pass legislation to make changes to the Organic Acts for Guam and the Virgin Islands for non-federal matters as well as possible legal and perceived problems with the existing law that authorized the adoption of a constitution.
Christensen said that if Young’s legislation is approved by Congress her bill seeking to reduce the number of members in the V.I. Legislature would not be needed. Her bill is expected to come up for a vote in the Resources Committee after the Memorial Day congressional recess.

The House Resources Committee Wednesday unanimously passed a bill seeking to clarify the process for the Virgin Islands and Guam to adopt a local constitution.
HR 3999 was sponsored by Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) and contains concerns raised by Gov. Charles Turnbull and other witnesses from the Virgin Islands that testified at the hearing on the bill last week.
"I am pleased that Chairman Young responded to our concern that his original bill eliminated the requirement that Congress had to act within 60 days of a proposed constitution that was submitted for approval," said V.I. Delegate to Congress Donna Christian Christensen.
Congress passed legislation in 1976, sponsored by then-Delegate Ron de Lugo, authorizing the people of the Virgin Islands and Guam to adopt local constitutions, however neither territory has succeeded in adopting a constitution. Young introduced HR 3999 to both eliminate the need for Congress to have to pass legislation to make changes to the Organic Acts for Guam and the Virgin Islands for non-federal matters as well as possible legal and perceived problems with the existing law that authorized the adoption of a constitution.
Christensen said that if Young’s legislation is approved by Congress her bill seeking to reduce the number of members in the V.I. Legislature would not be needed. Her bill is expected to come up for a vote in the Resources Committee after the Memorial Day congressional recess.

"Accessibility to guns is the root of the violent crime in the United States and the territory," in the view of Virgin Islands therapist Alice Hamilton, who participated in the Million Mom March in Washington, D.C., on Mother's Day.
In contrast, she said, "When persons get into an altercation in Europe, they tend to ‘duke it out' with fists instead of firing off a fatal shot. Here, where guns are easily available, anger results in fatalities."
As executive director for the first 10 years of Women's Resource Center (now Family Resource Center) on St. Thomas, Hamilton had frequent experience dealing with the tragedies of violent crime. As a therapist in private practice now, she is assisting the family of the victim of Tuesday's Main Street shooting.
Hamilton's niece, a physician in Ann Arbor, Mich., invited Hamilton to join her in Washington for the march. "It was a very moving experience to be with so many people who are concerned about the welfare of others," Hamilton said. "It is too rare that people take action and give witness to a call for meaningful change."
It was not known whether any other Virgin Islanders took part in the march. The office of Delegate Donna Christian-Christensen in Washington had no information on any other participants.
Donna Dees-Thomases, a mother from New Jersey, led in organizing the Million Mom March. Like Hamilton, she has not lost a child to gun violence, but she agonized for the many mothers who had, and she felt a great need to make an impact for change.
As Dees-Thomases watched one more gun tragedy on the nightly news last August, she scribbled plans for a demonstration on the back of an envelope. The next day she reserved the Washington Mall, contacted several anti-gun groups, ordered an 800 number and went to work, taking a leave from her job as a CBS Entertainment publicist. The result was the gathering of hundreds of thousands of women, along with children and men, on May 14. (Organizers put the number at 750,000; while seasoned Washington demonstration observers said it was less than that, it was without question by far the nation's largest-ever protest against gun violence.)
A longtime advocate of gun control, Hamilton remembers a significant conference on violence that she attended in the late 1980s, presented by the federal government in Charlotte, N.C. "At that conference the main theme was that guns were a major factor in violent crime," she recalled. "The New York Sullivan Act was touted as the way to go. It is a law that has a mandatory prison sentence for illegal gun possession." She noted, "The relationship of gun control to the reduction of crime is not a new idea."
"The points emphasized by the many speakers at the Million Mom March included requiring gun manufacturers to put safety locks on all guns, enforcing gun registration laws already on the books, and particularly taking the time to thoroughly research the background of the applicants to see if they have a criminal record," she said.
Hamilton said strong enforcement of gun laws is desperately needed in the Virgin Islands. "Police should stop cars to search for guns and be more vigilant about enforcing minor laws before major crimes are committed," she said. She said there is no doubt about the connection between guns and drugs and believes that smuggling is a major problem.
She will continue to advocate for stronger gun control laws so she doesn't have to comfort dear friends like the parents of promising young men like Jason Carroll.