Dear Source:
Why are there so few people going to Public Meetings on St. John? Let's be very honest here. It is not that we don't care. We have cared deeply for many, many years yet there comes a point where it feels like no matter what you say or do, no matter how many meetings you attend–you are not heard. Nothing changes. The same simple problems seem to be unaddressable.
Many St. Johnians feel that! St. John has the same simple issues–year after year after year: no parking; the same very bad roads; inadequate to no services; lack of any Community Meetings places for citizens; lack of Programs for Youth because again there is no place to meet–the list is long–and has been the same list for many years now.
Add to that the unfair rise in property taxes that threatens the fragile survival of both natives and those who have lived here a long time. It doesn't seem fair that because multi-million dollar Villa rental homes have been built here that we are asked to pay these higher property taxes! Shop the grocery stores here for food, drive around in circles looking for a parking spot to simply pick up your mail-check out our roads–is it any wonder St. Johnians feel hopeless about having representation for the problems that continually go unanswered?
We send taxes to St. Thomas–get very little in return; continually go to meetings to get our Island concerns heard–and nothing changes. Isn't the purpose of Government and taxes to represent the needs and the will of the People? Neither our needs or our will gets addressed. The Sirenusa project and the very strong voice of St. Johnians against it was ignored. The large number of citizens that came out in full force to The Westin as a result of the increased property tax issue seems to have made little impact. What are we to do? Do we have to file law suits to get the attention that we need for our Governemnet to see the issues here? Having little faith or trust in having your voice heard-which is where many of us find ourselves these days-is a very frustrating and sad place to be. It results in apathy and hopelessness.
We need a different system of representation for our Island. This one does not work. St. John needs more autonomy and power in solving it's own problems and getting timely solutions. I had crossed my fingers with the Constitutional Convention Delegates hoping that they would hear how frustrated we are and how we greatly needed a change in our out-dated system of Government. Many of us spoke strongly and clearly on these issues. At this point, it is not clear on whether we were heard in this forum.
Please, will someone in authority realize the seriousness of this problem and bring some hope to this Island and it's citizens?
Bonny Corbeil
St. John
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