It’s up to the members of the 5th Constitutional Convention to finish what it started, the six people who testified at the Monday meeting of the Legislature’s Committee of the Whole on St. John said. A bill sponsored by Senate President Ronald Russell would give the territory’s 15 senators the power to make changes to the constitution as the Constitutional Revision Commission.
“The Convention needs to be afforded the opportunity to work on it,” Wilma Marsh Monsanto said, later adding that it was “grossly unfair” to have the Legislature involved in the process.
The 5th Constitutuional Convention already spent several years working on it. However, it was returned to the territory in 2010 by President Obama and the U.S. Congress because nine provisions failed to meet constitutional standards.
At issue Monday was the provision that gives rights to native-born residents that others living in the territory wouldn’t have. Senate President Ronald Russell tried to grill Monsanto and another Constitutional Convention delegate, Alecia M. Wells, about their views on that subject, but neither would answer.
“I will not discuss any provisions,” Monsanto said.
Russell pointed out that it was useless to put the constitution back in the hands of the 5th Constitutional Convention members if they weren’t willing to address the sticking points including the native issue.
“I will not allow unequal treatment,” Russell said.
Both Monsanto and Wells said that they thought the delegates could finish the job. Wells put a time frame of about two months on it.
Funding is another issue. A promise of $500,000 from the Interior Department to do the job was bandied about throughout the meeting, but Russell read a letter from Anthony M. Babuta, the Interior Department’s assistant secretary for insular affairs, to 5th Constitutional Convention President Gerald Luz A. James II. It indicated that Interior would only come up with $150,000, and that the Legislature must take the appropriate steps to reconvene the convention.
Sen. Terrence “Positive” Nelson said money wasn’t the issue. Rather, it would take “will” to get the job done. He also said it wasn’t the Legislature’s will to take over the constitutional convention’s work, but rather that of one or two people.
“I don’t think we have any business in this,” he said.
Sen. Nereida Rivera O’Reilly said the question should be why after five tries, the territory can’t write a constitution that’s acceptable to the voters.
While most of the testimony focused on the constitution, St. John resident Yvonne Wells suggested that Russell start meetings on the half hour instead of scheduling them for the hour. Most of the senators made the 20-minute trip on the 6 p.m. ferry from Red Hook, St. Thomas to Cruz Bay, St. John for a meeting scheduled for 6 p.m.
“Those who live on St. John waste time. We always have to wait,” she said.
In addition to Russell, Nelson and O’Reilly, Sens. Craig Barshinger, Carlton Dowe,. Shawn Michael-Malone, Patrick Simeon Sprauve and Janette Millin-Young were present when the roll call was taken.
The Committee of the Whole will hold meetings on the same issue Wednesday at the Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas and Friday at the Fritz Lawaetz Conference Room on St. Croix. Both begin at 6 p.m.
The members of the 5th Constitutional Convention cannot finish what it started without being divisive and exclusionary with the nine provisions that failed to meet constitutional standards.
They knew it was a seriously flawed document when they submitted it and it shall continue to be so with these men and woman at the helm that insist on special rights, over and above, what the laws and the U.S Constitution dictates.
It is absurd to waste more Federal and Local funds on this dog and pony show, especially when members such as Monsanto and Wells refuse to air their views on the subject when questioned by the legislature.
They had their chance to create a constitution that would be fair to all and they blew it.
Time and time, again.
I support the bill sponsored by Senate President Ronald Russell which would give the territory’s 15 senators the power to make changes to the constitution as the Constitutional Revision Commission.
Let’s not waste any more time and money on the 5th Constitutional Convention members.
You had your chance to create a document that would be fair and equal for all.
5 strikes and you’re out!
I disagree with the Legislature acting as the Constitutional Revision Commission. It is like letting the hungry kids in a candy store guard the candy. The 5th Constitutional Convention should be re-convened even if by subpoena for the 2 months needed to correct the flawed document. We all know who was the sticking point delegates and why they forced things into the document. Personal gain! Now, get your government funded butts back in session and do the changes. Earth to Luz. . . get it together, over!
Wells and Monsanto, are they high???
A constitution is just that, it’s ‘for the people’ not ‘some people’ what kind of educated person would even think of tryin a 6th time to pass a such a change with an obvious lack of understanding of basic rights, truths and the Law. It will continue to be an EMBARASSMENT to the territory if these knuckleheads continue to send rediculousness to our Commander In Chief. We need to make sure someone with some business accumen make the correct, lucid and comprehensive augmentations, not self serving people with single digit IQ’s that can’t even show a shadow of transperancy and responsability.
Let’s spend another $50 million of taxpayers money to pay for legislators to travel in the lap of luxury, while they craft a meaningless “constitution” designed to confer special rights to select groups based solely on race.
Idiots electing idiots, such is the VI.
Why do they need to travel anywhere or get money to finish the constitution? They already are being paid high salaries with all the benefits and perks they voted themselves – Just do it, be fair to all and get it done without wasting more taxpayer time and money.
The 5th Constitutional Convention was urged to reconvene since two years ago. Why did the delegates failed to comply with the request to revise the document? It is obvious that they are ashamed that the fruits of their is spoiled. The draft was rejected by Congress, it was embarrassing for the governor to transmit it, and their inferior performance is now getting negative attention. If the convention delegates get another chance to fix their mistakes, let them do so using their own resources. Those persons that wish to donate their expertise or money should be encouraged. If the convention delegates do not correct their errors within a month, dissolve the convention and proceed to Plan B: adopt the Revised Organic Act of 1954 and through referendums amend it to be relevant to our generation.
If it be asked, What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? The answer would be, An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws – the first growing out of the last … A sacred respect for the constitutional law is the vital principle, the sustaining energy of a free government.
– Alexander Hamilton
@Alana: What are u talking about. Are they writing a constitution for the U.S. or are they writing the constitution for the Virgin Islands. The U.S. already have a constitution. Let the natives decide their own destiny.
@Crucianeducator:: you need to go sit down somewhere. You are such a great sell out and EMBARSASSMENT as a Virgin Islander which I don’t believe you are. Believe me, you will live long enough to see your generation suffer because of your stand. Take my word, people like you need to be put in a boat and set adrift.
@Levin40 – They are writing the VI Constitution which must follow the laws and precidents set by the US Constitution. I am a native and I sure don’t want these same, small-minded group of bigots who feel so entitled and above everyone else to continue to be involved in planning my future rights or my destiny.
Thank you but NO Thanks.
Why should the Virgin Island Constitution follow the laws and precidents set by the US constitution. You are claiming to be a native and as a native you should want your constitution to be written for the people to protect the people and not to have to follow another country’s constitution. If that the case why don’t you recommend adopting the the U.S. constitution as your own. Court after Court have ruled that the Virgin Islands is not part of the U.S. How long do you want the Virgin Islands to be sucking the breast of the U.S. and not having its own desting and future.
1
you are an idiot. following your reasoning to its logical conclusion a territory of the united states could legalize cocaine and incest if it wanted. If you want to continue to receive federal dollars you have to conform to its laws and principles. one of those principles being that one human being is not better than another and shouldnt be treated any differently than their neighbor. I should think that the african american community would understand and appreciate that more than anyone. again, your an idiot. you write that “You are claiming to be a native and as a native you should want your constitution to be written for the people to protect the people and not to have to follow another country’s constitution.” America is your country genius. if its not then the next time a hurricaine hits this rock i dont expect to see you in line for a fema check. the ignorance you display in your post is no different than the bile choked up by any number of rednecks in the southern U.S. rise above it, or at least dont display your ignorance so prominantly.