Here are a few simple ideas to help solve some of the territory’s problems.
1 – The Senate should come up with a bill to change the number of senators to nine members with four being from the island of St. Croix, four from the island of St. Thomas and one senator from the island of St. John. This is how it was in the past and this is what it should be again.
2 – St. John must be its own District. We have no local voice with our district being a part of St. Thomas. We must have our own voting district.
3 – Each island must have its own Mayor, elected by the people, and its own council members. No more government-appointed administrators.
4 – Instead of paying government employees every two weeks, reduce the government payroll to twice a month; on the 15th and the 30th of every month.
5 – Elect heads of each department permanently. We have so many changes each time a new administration comes in, nothing gets done. We need to have people elected to these positions who remain in these positions.
6 – The government must pay its WAPA bill.
7 – EDC benefits should be reduced and EDC companies should pay 10 percent of their income to the government.
8 – Enforce gun license laws in the territory. Licenses should be $50 per year and must be obtained by all gun owners within three months of the law passing. The penalty for not having a license will be $1,000 fine and three months in jail.
Norm Gledhill
St. John