March 29, 2007 — Holding off on recruiting police officers from off island, while waiting for local candidates to show up, as was suggested this week in the Senate, is pure – and dangerous – folly.
The same goes for teachers and nurses.
Where have all the local people to fill these slots been all these years while we have been crying out for these essential positions to be filled?
Teachers from the Philippines are reportedly doing a great job in our schools (despite being harassed in some quarters), and traveling nurses, who have suffered the same harassment, have long been the saving graces at our hospitals.
So, it's time to welcome off-island recruits to our police force. We don't have any choice and to think otherwise is to dream.
Every few years the idea of off-island recruiting of police officers comes up, and every time nothing significant happens. We believe this administration understands we have no choice, and we believe they have a plan in place to get it done.
And once our new neighbors arrive, we need to make these public saviors feel welcome.
We need to curb the hostility and hold open our arms to people who are willing to suffer the high cost of living and the complete change of climate and culture in order to do what they do – serve and protect the public – here in the Virgin Islands.
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