Just a thought....

We don't need staff writers to do stories. A story can be written and submitted by a freelance journalist.

If you are a good writer, they'll print it if it is newsworthy. If you are not a good writer, but it is newsworthy, they'll have a staff writer contact you to ask if they can use it - and they'll edit it and print it.

Cite your sources. Keep it clear. Know your audience.

Go forth and publish!

National murder rates, from FBI files : http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=169

Virgin Islands had 43 murders in 2006 : http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=17601192

110,000 by 43 murders comes out to 39.09 murders per 100,000

I cannot find where I found the solvency for the USVI and national rates; I believe the USVI one came from the virginislandsdailynews.com, though.

If you ever wondered why the VI Daily News won a Pulitzer, I suggest you read the works that the award is for, at:

http://www.pulitzer.org/year/1995/public-service/works/

It is a very interesting read that details corruption and ineptitude in the USVI Police Department, etc. - things like a million dollars worth of cocaine stolen from the secure storage building for evidence, that was never found:

http://www.pulitzer.org/year/1995/public-service/works/15cocaine.html

Wow - the Pulitzer page for the VI Daily News is enough to take my breath away! Thanks noone. I've never seen this.

Okay Noone,
We're gonna have to start calling you Sherlock. You don't smoke a big pipe, and own a
big magnifying glass, do you?
That would be so perfect.
Interesting find.

I just read way too much... and have a deep interest in the USVI and BVI.

That was not a pleasant read, noone.

I'd like to see a "That was then - This is now" article published by the paper. How many of the grievous problems detailed in the "14 Point Formula" have been addressed and how many remain unchanged?

Somethings that can be done by registered voters in the in the USVI, that would make a big difference in the Criminal Justice System in the territory. Petition the Legislature and the Governor to sign a bill authorizing the Attorney General to empanel a Grand Jury.

The territory's top prosecutor, The Attorney General does not have the power under VI law to empanel a Grand Jury. Although the Top Federal prosecutor in the territory, the US Attorney does have that power as do most state prosecutors, to which the VI Attorney General's Job can be compared.

Under VI Law the (VI Attorney General)has the power to hold a corn oner's inquest, in which an inquest panel holds public hearings for fact-finding about a questionable death, an inquest panel, also called a coroner's jury, operates much the way a grand jury does, with the right to subpoena testimony, gather evidence, and question the testifiers. Unlike a Grand Jury, which is picked from the jury pool, the members of the corners inquest can be hand-picked by the coroner-a role that the Attorney General VI would fill. typically the inquest panel comprises esteemed local citizens of proven integrity and objectivity.

Grand Jury can make the Attorney Generals job allot easier, They (Grand Jury) can subpoena ordering people to testify at its hearing, can have officer's bring them in, they can ask questions of witnesses unlike a regular trial jury. They can hand up a bill of indictment which charges the person with a crime, or no probable cause no bill indictment. The Grand Jury consists of 12 to 25 impartial people.

I just read the USVI Daily News series that earned them a Pulitzer.

How terribly sad that the series was written over ten years ago, and yet the murder of Jamie Cockayne and the bungled and mismanaged aftermath seems almost scripted from the articles in the series.

I shudder to think of the lives that have been put in danger in the VI in the past few years (mine included) because habitual violence, corruption, inept and uncaring policework and a questionable judiciary system puts both residents and tourists at risk. How do these government officials sleep at night????

I plan to petition my elected officials to have a general travel warning issued for this region until the government of the islands makes the sort of fundamental changes that are necessary to ensure the safety of the local and visiting populace. Regrettably, this would do little to help the residents of the islands who will continue to suffer - perhaps even moreso if tourism dwindles.

Wow,

I think I will stay away from the USVI. I was planning on coming this winter for vacation. Guess I will keep looking. Thanks for the heads up everyone.

wiggleworm,
That is best told to the USVI Tourism Board. We here love the VI's. Doesn't mean we
don't worry, we are trying to figure out a way to help.

Hmmmm==

As dire as this information is, tourism in the USVI has been booming. Construction and land values on STJ are going through the roof. The "off season" is shrinking from summer and fall into just fall. More and more destination weddings taking place there. How can this be?

Probably because if tourists don't read forums or local papers (most don't) and just go by their experience, they're having a wonderful time. Remember that the Cockayne family liked STJ so much that they were looking for a home there---and even continued looking briefly after the homicide. Tourism has barely been impacted by this homicide---the circumstances are quite different than the events on Aruba. The scarey and corrupt place being described here doesn't correspond to tourists' experience of the islands.

Don't think you are telling us something new here.

Breck,
Are you referring to the current homicide or the 13 year old news article?

DreamConch, can you please post the link to the USVI Tourism Board? I don't think many people know how to find it.

A more recent article from the Virgin Islands Daily News

"Murderer's Paradise. Homicides twice as likely to go unsolved in V.I. as in U.S."

http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_dforce?id=512120

Most recently, 2 days ago the killer who murdered the 12 yr old girl ::::the monster Judge Kendall released::: appeared in court for the murder and was before a different judge. The news is that the prosecution was unprepared. The judge is quoted to say that she is extremely exasperated with the VI Justice Department for all of the mistakes in handling cases, and the Cockayne case is referenced, as well as the case of the murder of the tourists from New York. She is quoted to say "This happens all the time - and these are murder cases".

It is hard to deny the ineptness of the VI system when the VI's own judge is claiming it to be true. Are the locals on this board still going to defend it?

http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=17613622

Sorry,
Don't know how to post a link so you can just click on it from here. But, here is the address to the
Tourism Board Site.

www.usvitourism.vi (then click onto) contact us

You can state your concerns in the box provided.

With due respect to the posters on this board, contacting the USVI Tourism Board is kind of like bringing a knife to a gun battle. A Well written letter to the Governor of the Islands would have a much greater impact. Copies should be sent to your Federal Reps (Congress & Senate). Should say something about closer federal oversight on the Justice System in the islands (USVI).

wiggleworm, please do not let this keep you from going to the USVI.

More than likely you will not be a victim - just be smart, and you will be fine.

The USVI and BVI are some of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Thank you noone. I have read the entire 9 pages of this post and as much as I would love to come there I would just be too afraid to relax. Several of the posters, like bluwater, seem to have been vacationing there for years and know a lot about the USVI are saying how horribly corrupt the police and government are. I don't know why they keep going back if it is so dangerous but since they are regular visitors there I will take their word for it and stay away. I am sorry I will not get to see how beautiful the islands are but I cannot risk the safety of my family. Thank you for all the information. I am glad I found this message board before I booked my vacation. Good luck.

wiggleworm

Wiggleworm,
The following is a list of crime free islands;