Anita,

Kudos to you! I have to say, very very well spoken! It is sadly amazing that there seems to be almost a racist fashion in the islands. Kudos to you for speaking out. You truely represent the reason I love the islands. It is people like you that also make it such a beautiful place, in spite of what is going on! God bless ya hun!

Well put Anita. I have been struggle with how to say what you have said. I am so very sorry that there had to be the loss of so many lives before we saw this much action. When a young innocent tourist girl is killed, it is a terrible terrible thing. But it is also very sad that so many locals have died and there was little or no action.

I don't believe locals as a whole have a distorted sense of entitlement, lack of outrage at corruption, or look the other way attitude. Fear, distrust of authority, and just a helpless feeling would be closer to how I see it. I do think some feel "why don't they care about us?" I will take whatever improvements they will give us, but when they only act when tourism is threatened, it does give you the impression that the locals don't really count.

The islands have problems, but it seems like the first steps are being taken. Admitting that you have a problem is the first step. We are now learning about the signs. There are many many Virgin Islanders who care and who are trying to make a difference.

emtjen & stjohnjulie... i appreciate your kind words. i guess i felt a little slighted myself, as i have come to identify myself as a virgin islander over the years... so glad that i live here.