JO: Public nudity is not legal in the USVI. The Park rangers enforce the law. Law enforcement is tough too, especially when folks feel that the law is for someone else.

Jo.........Are you for real. You actually let your 9 and 10 year old children run nude on a public beach? A beach that is known for nude adults? Don't tell me you didn't know that little fact. That's why you picked Soloman in the first place.

Officer Matos was trying to protect your children from the cameras of fellow free spirits. You may not care that your children are exposed for anyone to see. You probably think it is free expression, just being one with nature, and all that sort of crap.

There are so many weirdos in this world that want to hurt children that it makes me sick to my stomach. I also don't believe they live on STJ. But as a mother, how can you put your kids out there to be a specticle? A mothers first job is to protect her children.
If there is a perv on STJ, I am sorry to say, it is you.

I was thinking maybe this woman is not from this country!!
In this country...I would think she would get arrested for some form of child abuse for allowing her children...NOT toddlers, to be naked in public.
We have laws to PROTECT our children here! It sounds like this women is a bit naive about this. IMO!

Good grief...I wouldn't have thought to bring my children when they were babies or toddler's to a public beach & let them run around naked. I think once me son at 2 attempted that while I was dressing him on a beach & I got real bad looks from the other's at the beach.

Amen Deb - you said it well!!

Sometimes you wonder is this a troll or is this a knucklehead?

You should have read the literature, it is made very clear nude sunbathing is illegal in the USVI. Obviously, you have vacationed where it is legal and a comfortable cultural thing to do. During our recent stay we visited as many beaches on STJ and Solomon was my very least favorite - my 12 yo daughter, 18 yo son and I walked the Lind Point Trail to the beach, it was late afternoon and I felt uncomfortable and to make matters worse when we entered the beach from the trail we were met by a nude female sunbather and as we walked past I heard her companion go up to a female couple and say, "well I guess it's a family beach now".... I could not have felt more uneasy. There was one other couple on the beach. We stayed just long enough to let my daughter swim and try to relax and enjoy the view - but it was impossible... I kept thinking... WHAT were they doing before we got there that made it NOT a family beach ??!! With that said, however, I LOVE St. John and all it's fabulous beaches and it will always remain our #1 destination... I just won't go back to Solomon Beach!

I think the officer was completely correct in telling Jo like it is. I personally find it offensive when people let their children run around naked, no matter what age. I think that people who allow their children to do that (or do so themselves for that matter) are just trying to prove a point, or to stand out and be noticed. I would never allow my child to run around naked except in the privacy of home. How would she feel if she lost sight of one of her kids, and he/she disappeared even for a minute? Why take the chance of attracting weirdo's to your kids? C'mon, everyone, be respectful of the local laws, don't try to make a point. Behave when you are in someone else's home. I bet Jo wouldn't appreciate me bringing kids to her house and run around naked!

Actually, I was trying to figure out just when Switzerland aquired beachfront. Last I looked, they were landlocked.

As a wise man recently said,

"The best way to deal with a troll is to ignore it."

I guess it simply comes down to "respect". It would seem that there are a few out there that do not respect not only the traditions and morals of the people that live on the US Virgin Islands but could care less about teaching their children about respect for the rule of law. The officer should not be berated for attempting to enforce the law of the land. It is sad to say but I have witnessed such disrespect too often from fellow tourists. It would seem that due to the actions of a few the rest of us suffer.

Personally, it doesn't matter to me one way or another, but that's not the issue. Whether you agree that public nudity should be ok or not, the fact is, it's not ok on St John. You may not like the way he delivered the message, but after all, it was you who were in the wrong, not Officer Matos.

You might try St Martin next time. Most, if not all, beaches allow some level of nudity.