Breaking

9-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Shot in Head in Croixville Housing Community; Police Detain 15-Year-Old

Concerned Residents Clean Christiansted Town Using Their Own Tools, Money, and Some Help from the VI Fire Service

Territory May See Veterans Cemetery Through DeGazon-Sponsored Bill

Credit and Debit Cards of WAPA Customers Were Compromised Since August 30th, WAPA Says, Authority to Finally Start Issuing Notification Via Mail and Email

Sports Tourism in VI Gains Momentum as DC United Team is set to Play Exhibition Soccer Game on St. Croix

Carnival Breeze Brings 3,700 Tourists to St. Croix During Maiden Call; Senators, Tourism Officials Want to See More

Limetree Bay Willing To Provide $10 Million To Help Add Life to a Dying G.E.R.S.

American Airlines to Serve St. Croix With New Flights Next Summer

The Sudden Death of Influential Roots Reggae Visionary, Vaughn Benjamin of Midnite Band and Akae Beka, Has Rocked the Virgin Islands and Reggae Community Around the World

Arthur A. Richards K-8 School Hosts Anti-Bullying Campaign

Come Out. Hang Out. Have Fun at The Meat Up, One of St. Thomas’ Latest Hot-Spot for Good Food with Friends and Family.

UVI Board of Trustees Approves $47.1 Million Fiscal Year 2020 Budget; Sets $3 Million Fundraising Goal

Man Dies During Early Morning Car Accident on St. Croix; Driver of Car Arrested (Updated)

'You Did Everything You Could to Prevent this from Happening': An Emotional Goodbye to Young Aaron Benjamin

Back in Business: Cost U Less on St. Thomas Opened its Doors Friday to Thousands of Customers 2 Years after Irma and Maria

Bill Aimed at Regulating Credit Use by Gov't Departments and Agencies Among Others Held in Committee

Juan Luis Hospital Announces Completion and Availability of Mobile Dialysis Facilities

Tractor Trailer With Tank Carrying Thousands Of Gallons of Liquified Gas Flips Near Cool Out Bar; Driver Injured But Alive

Credit and Debit Card Hack Through WAPA Appears to be Widespread in Virgin Islands; WAPA Says Support Services Will be Made Available to Affected Customers

Facing Life in Prison Without Parole, Mother and Boyfriend Plead Not Guilty in Murder of 4-Year-Old Boy

Op-Ed: Wisdom From A Teen: Dear Government, Listen To Your Community

Exclusive / Featured / Opinion / Virgin Islands / May 21, 2015

Another article read, another radio broadcast heard, another frustrated V.I. resident pushes her cart down supermarket aisles pointing out community problems.

It makes me think for a minute and ask: Why isn’t there a community committee to bridge the gap between the Government of the Virgin Islands (GVI) and the people? Why aren’t there more conferences between officials and the community? No, I don’t mean showcases where they use complex lexicon to throw off listeners. Residents aren’t going to know “government” terms, unless we have a pocket handbook ready.

St. Croix Educational Complex Senior, Hannah Rantan

St. Croix Educational Complex Senior, Hannah Rantan

What about concentration conferences where they don’t make excuses, but take responsibility? I’m tired of hearing, “We don’t have funds”. Maybe they would, if they had fresh ideas. Maybe they should open up the mic to the community and let us suggest. I don’t mean an actual, physical mic but how about each community, (Estate Whim, Grove Place, Mon Bijou, Sion Farm etc) create their own “board of residents” and have their chosen “presidents”, sit with senators to relay what exactly needs to be fixed, what is going well, and present ideas to become better.

Test run the community committee by volunteer, and those who are serious may receive payment.

Allow me to use a metaphor to help explain my position: I’ve never seen a doctor diagnose without first asking/assessing the patient to check for symptoms. Furthermore, you can’t help the people if you don’t communicate with them. I don’t want to be spoken to only around campaign season.

I’m fed up with hearing complains about the problem, I’m ready to hear the solutions. — Hannah Rantan.

Now, let’s address the “impossible problem” of lack of money and the abundance of violence: If the government needs money, and if tourism is our biggest source of revenue, and if violence is displayed by young black teens (males) because of idleness/ lack of finances, and if young black teens love horses…why not start a horseback riding ranch where the teens take care of the horses and give these tours? The government gets a new revenue source by offering it as an excursion to cruise ships or independent travel guests, the teens have something productive to do, history and knowledge of culture/tradition is passed down, and they are making money while doing something they love.

Minors in school can take care/groom/temper the horses after school, and graduates/adults can give the tours. Horses may not be everyone’s thing. Remember that bike trail? There are talented teens that can take a bike apart, customize it and put it back together with ease! The custom bikes can be rented for a fee and maintained by teens. Both the needs of the GVI and teen are considered.

I’m fed up with hearing complaints about the problem, I’m ready to hear the solutions.

Submitted by:

Hannah Rantan, St. Croix Educational Complex student


Tags: , , ,



Staff Consortium




Previous Post

Sports, Parks and Recreation Announces Territory-Wide Summer Sports Training Programs

Next Post

VI Supreme Court Rejects Superior Court's Decision To Deny Same-Sex Couple Adoption Rights





You might also like

Leave a Reply


More Story

Sports, Parks and Recreation Announces Territory-Wide Summer Sports Training Programs

ST. CROIX -- The Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation has announced its 2015 territory-wide Summer Sports...

May 21, 2015