"When all of your crime is solved possibly we might ask for direction in solving ours. "

John Thomas...did you read the statistics related to crimes being solved that appear in a previous post? I don't think it's practical to expect "all" of our crime to be solved, but it is clear that the US does a better job at criminal investigation than does the USVI police force. I apologize if that lends itself to the notion of "superiority" that you find so offensive, but the numbers are the numbers. Why would you resist the involvement of law enforcement officials who have a demonstrated ability to put criminals behind bars? As a resident of the area, aren't you concerned with the safety of your streets?

It is evident from your posts that this issue has touched a raw spot with you. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to have to contend with swarms of tourists who, purposely or otherwise, give daily offense to the sensibilities and sensitivities of islanders. But you have latched on to the notion of continental "know it alls" as a fundamental aspect of this whole situation. It isn't.

The family and friends of Jamie Cockayne are grieving...and part of the grieving process is anger. In this instance, the natural anger related to the loss of a loved-one is being exacerbated by the perception of shoddy police work, a prosecutor who can't manage her calendar, questionable decisions by the court and the continued suggestion that a fuss is only being made because Jamie was white. I think these complicating factors would arouse the anger of most people, even if the crime was the theft of a car and not the murder of a young man.

John Thomas - you are entitled to your anger. If you feel put-upon by a bunch of off-island experts who want to tell your authorities how to run things, then you are justified to push back. But do not lose sight of what all the pushing is about. A man is dead and the people who did it may never see the inside of a jail cell. We should all be on the same side on this one.

Latin America was coined by French Emperor Napoleon Ill (Amerique Latine).

Latin America designates all the countries and territories in the Americas where Romance Languages derived from latin are spoken, and hence the name Latin America (Spanish, Portuguese, French an Creoles).

The Former Dutch Colonies The Netherlands Antilles (USVI) and Aruba are not considered Latin America.

Language Dictates not Geography.

I'm not sure what continues to give this life. Suspects are in custody awaiting next legal procedure. The crinminal justice system lurches and stumbles forward.

I think the "lurches and stumbles" of the criminal justice system and the implication that has for actually finding and convicting the murderers is what continues to give this life. The lid is off the can of worms...it won't go back on so easily.

John Thomas, where do you go for vacation? Where do you pack up your family, children included, and travel thousands of miles to reach, several times a year - staying for weeks at a time? When do you send thousands of dollars IN ADVANCE of your trip, simply to secure a place to stay, then drop several more thousand once you arrive so you can sample the culture, eat in the restaurants, patronize the stores, etc. Where do YOU feel most connected, a place where you spend hours each week helping other visitors learn what you've learned over decades of visits?

I just did the math. I have spend much more $$ in STT over the last year than I have on my own mortgage for my home in Philadelphia over the last year - three visits in the last 12 months.....6 weeks on the island.

But, you want me to focus on my own hometown and ignore what happens down there? It isn't any of our business, right? When you start visiting my town as I have described above in paragraph one, we'll start a thread on crime in Philly and I'd be happy to admit to all of the issues and tell you what *I*, personally, am doing to help solve some of it. Imagine that?!

And to generalize with the "you Americans" comment only serves to discredit your case. The passport issue isn't valid because the USVI will also require passports in a few months, so you'll be right there with the "down-islands". The airlines are already telling visitors that passports are required for the USVI, as of now.

And, everyone, as far as the argument that noone's numbers are skewed because they don't take tourism into effect, neither do any of the other cities in the US. Everything is compared equally. The vast of the VI visitors are ship passengers who leave at 6pm. Do you think most of your crimes happen at night in the VI? I read the STT and STJ online police blotters, on occasion, and much of what is reported is crime that took place at night. Most of your visitors have departed. There will always be another element to add to the data. Why not compare the hour at which the time took place and number of visitors at that hour? We can do it a million different ways, right? My point is, we have the data we have....and noone has given that to us. You can excuse it any way you'd like.

I think the poster who said that this site is not a real representation of the VI reaction is probably right. The VI residents who frequent this forum, in many cases, have an interest in the tourist market. That's why they come to a visitor's forum, right? So, we cannot really expect those with an active interest in promoting tourism to come on here and pull back the curtain for us to see all that is wrong. Of course, they will defend. We cannot blame them for it. I assert that many of the residents are probably appalled at what has happened and what has led the VIPD and the judicial system to be viewed in the current light. After all, at the end of the day, they have to live there - not us.

John Thomas,

Just curious, is your own job related to the tourist industry in any way??

Bluewater
Look up the word skewed! Crime stats come in different shape and sizes. As stated it depends on who-how-and for what purpose they are being reported. In 2004 the USVI received $1,300,000. from our Federal Govt.(US) for Law enforcement. In 2006 the USVI only received $289,000. because how crime was reported. A working case can be indefinite not to be confused as unsolved. a homicide still under investigation not to be confused with possible suicide. Noone referred to my statement as an argument. No argument here about crime, just a statement about stats.
Noone said I said "can be easily reversed "never said that! Read my statement. When a large city in the US is bidding for a convention or sporting event crime stat figures go down(same amount of crime only reported differently). Since you are satisfied with Noone's stats, maybe you should ask the question where did they come from meaning what agency FBI,National Crime Bureau, US Police chief's Reports etc (there are about 100 agencies reporting crime and none are the same (not to be confused with Noone).

This story is so out there and all over, yet like the Natalee Holloway case or the case of the cruise ship honeymoon gone bad, there is NO resolution. Too bad the island government can't seem to get anything done. And who ever heard of what amounts to a DA forgetting about what has to be the most high profile case within her jurisdiction?

http://thebulletin.us/site/news.cfm?newsid=18729601&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=6

http://www.phillyfuture.org/node/5468

http://www.phillyfuture.org/node/5538

http://barnako.typepad.com/news_of_st_john_usvi/2007/08/cockayne-invest.html

http://www.topix.com/world/central-america/2007/08/michael-smerconish-when-a-murder-doesnt-make-the-cut?fromrss=1

http://virgin-islands-on-line.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=39704#39704

http://casamafrazz.livejournal.com/19344.html

http://www.phillyfuture.org/node/5562

http://www.phillyfuture.org/node/5490

http://video.nbc10.com/player/?id=135748

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0708/08/lkl.01.html

http://cbs3.com/topstories/local_story_209230852.html

http://www.buckslocalnews.com/WebApp/appmanager/JRC/Weekly

http://www.katablog.com/category_blogs.cfm?category=11

http://www.olcg.com/pa/philadelphia/main.php?city2=Philadelphia&state2=PA&statedes=Pennsylvania

http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-32552585_ITM

http://blogs.phillyburbs.com/blog.php?m=200706

http://st-thomas-vacations-infosheet.com/chinese.php

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=131197692&blogID=291026822

Sorry lizard, I need to make this clear: You say these stats that I present do not take into account tourists. Well, guess what? Neither do the national stats take into account tourists. Do you really believe a city like NYC does not have tourists?

Noone,
What National stats are you talking about?

Noone.
Since you brought up NYC, When Mayor Linsey Left the Office of the Mayor the city was almost bankrupt. In comes Abe Beam the City Controller who was elected Mayor and Known as the bean counter. When he applied for federal aid and grants he used the tourist figures for the increased population in the city. End result was he got more money for the city. Hmmmmmmmmm

I am curious...

" In 2004 the USVI received $1,300,000. from our Federal Govt.(US) for Law enforcement. In 2006 the USVI only received $289,000. because how crime was reported. "

Does that mean that the 2003 crime stats are inflated or that the 2005 numbers are deflated?

Since a case is being made that we cannot rely on reported data, we'll just have to reply on the cases we know and read about....

She we begin the exercise with a murder tally? Solved vs. Unsolved. If we cite the specific cases, nobody can accuse us of skewing the data.

Bluewater,
No funds were reported for either year that being 2003 and 2005. As reported in the Federal Register

No case being made! But where did the data come from?????????

If that is what you choose to do, sounds like you have a plan. Good Luck with it.

lizard, I asked about 2003 vs. 2005 because I assume that if funding was sent in 2004 and 2006, it was based on the previous year's reported crime stats.

I have no idea where the USVI crime data comes from. I assumed, the USVI.

I wonder why the USVI had such a high fund in 2004. Was that the year they got all the new jeeps for the department? Would be interesting ot know.

Bluewater,
Yes,the funds received were based on data supplied for prior year.

You assumed that stats came from the USVI Govt. Again I will ask where did that stats come from. I think it would make a good read and maybe help you on you quest.

All money becomes available thru congress and their programs via the national budget. These programs have strings attached. These funds were available for crime prevention, enforcement and get this Reporting.
When an agency(USVI) applies for additional funds the Fed looks at the experience from prior funding and then determines what that agency will receive. With the war in Iraq I don't believe there is much money left at home.

Seems to me I read in the relocation forum, the money was offered and turned down.

DreamConch
It is my belief that the funds your speaking about were for education/school system that went unused and had to be returned.

Lizard,
You are right. I stand corrected.

Correct me if I'm wrong...no feelings hurt...but I've toured the "other forum" and what I've found is that this forum's beauty is that we all agree that it's okay to disagree and we still love each other's company.

Okay with that said, I've put on my tie died t-shirt and birks and got the old pipe out.

It's good to be home! 🙂

Lizard, you make a good point about the data and it' source. If the USVI is seeking funds from the US govt, I have assumed that the USVI would supply the numbers. But, maybe not.

I know that the USVI does not send collected tax dollar to the US. The USVI keeps their own taxes collected to use within the USVI - while also taking advantage of the US subsidies, which are funded by the tax collection from US continental residents. I have often wondered why this hasn't led to a very well-funded USVI PD and justice system. If you get to take from the US kitty, without contributions to the US kitty, isn't that an advantage that should yield some major benefits to the USVI? Why, then, does the USVI claim to be so horribly disadvantaged that it does not have the resources to solve crimes? We have heard that there is no forensic crime lab, etc. What can we do to help?