06 May Watch: USVI Leaders Call for “Community” During Debut of #DearUSVI TOWN HALL

On Wednesday, April 29th we held our first #DearUSVI Town Hall conversation to address the pandemic of gun violence in our beloved islands. Making the decision to launch this unprecedented series wasn’t an easy one as tourism accounts for the majority of our revenue in the US Virgin Islands. How will this town hall affect the public image of our community as “America’s Paradise?” That question haunted me. I found resolve in the harsh truth now ever-present in the larger American paradigm that as a nation we’ve sold each other dreams for far too long. There exist serious social, economic and political inequalities that have long threatened to destroy the social fabric of our nation. The USVI is no different. These issues must be addressed. Furthermore, it’s time for Caribbean leaders to innovative and work towards diversifying our collective economy beyond mere beaches and booze in the sun. We exist as real people outside of the social construct limiting us to just caricatures enabling pleasure in paradise. Our first town hall vocalized our hopes, fears and dreams on our terms.  

Having said this, I thank our first cross-section of panelists who dared to venture outside the narrative written for us and decided to add heart to purpose. USVI Senate Vice President Myron D. Jackson, USVI Police Commissioner Trevor Velinor, USVI musical ambassador Benny Demus, Dr. Celia Victor, Pastor Gil Monrose, Kerwin Williams and Alicisa James gave us all food for thought as we work collectively to become the world’s most futuristic paradise. I also thank the Virgin Islands Daily News, St. Croix Avis, and St. Thomas Source for their prominent coverage. Our discussion revealed that we must once again build a community where it takes a village to raise a child. Heroes are born within the souls of those who seek to add more than take, thus ensuring that the cycle of life continues.