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Fire Service Needs Restructuring Prior to any Expansion
Are we serious about the future?
Civilian Review Board a Timely Move
Full Autonomy for our Hospitals
I believe that the movement to have the fire stations in Dorothea and Fortuna reopen is ill conceived. There should be a comprehensive restructuring of the fire service.Which should include the use of volunteer trained firefighters. Volunteerism is a basic institution in communities large and small across the United States of America, the US Virgin Islands, the last time I checked is still a territory of the USA. There are many benefits to volunteerism, aside from the economical benefits to the community it provides a ready pool of worker from which to draw when money becomes available for appointment. The volunteers also receives benefit because they gain a sense of usefulness, that of commitment to a mission. With proper legislation that can be done and should be done. The only drawback I see is the politicians, the demagogues and their demagoguery. They know what is right but lack the moral courage to stand up or sit up for what is right and proper and play in to the hands of some vocal minority groups, some short sighted union leaders.
I understand the plight of the residents of Fortuna and Dorothea, they need the services. I learn that residents of Dorothea offered their services as volunteers and were turned down, allegedly by a union. The same can be said of Water Island. The unions should not have any say in administrative policies of the government that promote the welfare of the community. Unions represent employees, they are to look out for their members welfare, their working condition that is all. Salaries should be based on a scale established by the personnel classified service that applies to all government employees regardless of department, that is a topic for another article.
The restructuring of the fire service is a big order, I know for the senate, but they can get outside help, they do not need to reinvent the wheel. The restructuring should include regular training and retraining. Regular upgrades of equipment, include an EMS unit to be attached to the outpost stations. The service should be completely professionalized, with members gaining college degrees in the fire fighting science and investigation, before they can be promoted.
If the senators really want to address the needs of this community they have to stop the piecemeal approach and develop a comprehensive plan that addresses all the infrastructure needs and establish a time table, to include a revenue source, to implement the plan. It is a challenge, I acknowledge, but together we can do it.
The Governor vetoed the opening of the Dorothea fire station allegedly because of lack of fund. In other words, and it make sense to me, if there is not a consistent revenue source to pay for the services it makes no sense to open the station to close them as soon as the appropriation is dried up. That happen before, is that what the residents of those communities want? I really do not think so, do you? The citizens have to demand more sincerity from the politicians. Politicians the world over are untrustworthy individuals, duplicity is their game.
Are we going to demand a comprehensive plan to address our infrastructure needs or are we going along with the politically expedient piecemeal approach? Remember people power, make your demands for a full program with a definite time table to address all the infrastructure needs. The ball is in the people’s court.
J.J. Estemac
Are we serious about the future?
Of course that is a rhetorical question. That question is asked because I hear people talking, particular the politicians, saying we must make room for our youth, but I see very little, if any evidence that they are serious about such pronouncements.
Let us observe the politicians, particularly those elected to office. Do you see them taking a young person under their wing to prepare them fill their place or that of anyone else in office? I understand the sense of insecurity they may have, of not wanting anyone to displace them. What about being replaced? As mortals, as we all are, we will pass away or become disable or even retire, that is an irrefutable fact of life. Therefore, it would be wise for us to prepare someone or several persons to assume our role when we are no longer available or have passed on to a different dimension. Unfortunately our politicians appears to presume they are immortal, that they will last forever, they do not prepare others to take over when they are no longer available.
Do you know of any politician that have identified someone they would prepare to take on a leadership role whether in the political party or an elected office? Do you know of anyone who prepare their own successor particularly in government service? I know of several individuals who have become fixtures on elected and appointed boards. Some have been on a certain board for over twenty years and still do not want to give someone else an opportunity to serve in that capacity. We just recently had a situation on the St. Croix Board of Election where there were four seats to be filled. There were only three candidates the fourth seat had to be filled by a write-in candidate. A dispute developed between a long time member of the board, a registered Democrat who allegedly lost in the Democratic Party Primary but was determined to retain her seat on the board after serving there for many years. On that board there have been very little change in its membership for the past ten years, it appears that the electorate has lost interest in who sits on that board.
In the senate there are senators who have been in that body for more than ten years. I do not see any of those fixtures in the senate preparing anyone to be their successor. Therefore, how can they say they are interested in supporting the youth, or that they are preparing for the future when they do not prepare someone to succeed them in their role. The same scenario can be found in the executive branch, with executives not preparing subordinates for upward mobility. I believe it may be somewhat different in the judicial branch maybe because of the very nature of that branch. It appear that when someone remain in an elected position too long, for more than three terms, their productivity seems to decrease in relations to their time in the position. We have tern limit for Governor in the executive branch and for judges in the judicial branch, why not term limits also for senators? I believe senators should serve for only three consecutive terms, they could be elected again after an interval of at least one term. This prevent these representatives to be more productive and not get too stale in that office.
It is the electorate, the citizens rights and responsibility to institute the necessary changes by selecting and electing representatives with a proven track record in community service, whether in the public or private fields. We need to avoid keeping the same people in the same elected position for more than three consecutive terms, they get rooted and stale. Their production becomes repetitive and limited. Let us move for progress, for positive change with new ideas, new people, better representatives. Democracy require the participation of the govern in all areas of government. It requires vigilance and diligence on the part of the citizens. Whether we have a good or poor government is up the citizens, in a democracy the government reflect the people. Whether we hold our elected and appointed representatives accountable for their actions and/or inaction depends on us, on all of us.
J.J. Estemac
CCBG
St. Thomas, VI
Civilian Review Board a Timely Move
We believe the establishing of a civilian review board to monitor the performance of our peace officers is move that is very timely. When we consider the state of law enforcement in our community, the many incidents of misconduct, of negligence and the general lack of discipline of the various peace officers including those of the VI Police Department. The review board as I understand its purpose, to provide objective monitoring of those public servants classified as peace officers, all law enforcement agents of the Virgin Islands government.
The news media have been reporting several incidents of misconduct by police officers. Citizens have been complaining the lack of law enforcement and the lack of police presence in their neighborhood. The VI Police is not the only law enforcement agency of the government, there are about half a dozen agencies that have personnel with peace officer status. Peace officers, agents of the government are sworn to obey and enforce the laws of the territory and applicable federal laws. Unfortunately too many peace officers that are not members of the police department tend to be exclusive in their law enforcement duties, they enforce only the laws and regulations that are the primary responsibility of their agency or department. Only the VI Police Department have general jurisdiction for law enforcement in the territory. That does not relieve other peace officers from assisting in promoting law and order in the community.
The deplorable law enforcement status in the territory is due to poor leadership and poor discipline within the rank and file. We believe that a civilian review board if it is adequately instituted and funded could help improve the performance standard of our peace officers, including members of the VIPD (Virgin Islands Police Department). The review board could help the legislature improve legislation that would improve the profession of law enforcement in the US Virgin Islands.
Governor Charles W. Turnbull vetoed the legislation to establish the civilian review board alleging the legislation would give the board too much power. That is exactly the intent of the legislation, to give the board the power to exercise the responsibilities the law assigns it. But Governor Turnbull like most politicians of his vintage are not interested in meaningful change. Changes do not have to be radical to be rejected by some, it is more comfortable for them to continue in the old traditional way and continue to complain about its deficiencies without really doing much to change the way things are done. The politicians who have been in office for the longest are the ones most responsible for the status quo; they had the most opportunities to make a real difference, a positive difference in our government and they failed.
Let us wait and see if the 26th. Legislature is serious , if they are really committed to the establishment of the civilian review board as the bill defines it. Let us see if the sponsor o sponsors will muster the support of their colleagues to override Governor Turnbull’s veto. Situation like these reveal the sincerity of the legislators, their conviction of worthiness of their legislation. The citizens should remain vigilant and observe the performance of these legislators. Are they true demagogues or just lack courage of their convictions, it they have a conviction. Let us wait and find out.
J. J. Estemac
CCBG
Full Autonomy for our Hospitals
It is our studied position that the best solution to the problems that is afflicting our hospitals is the granting of full autonomy with the central government underwriting at least 90% of the cost of treating the indigent population and other unfunded liabilities the central government may create that impact the hospitals.
I attended recently the hearing of the 26th. Legislature Committee on Health, Hospital and Human Services, Chaired by Senator Usie Richards, Chairperson and Senator Liston Davis, Vice-chairperson. It was a very interesting hearing for many reasons. There were only four of seven committee members for most of the hearing. Senators Neville James and Craig Barshinger appeared when the hearing was winding down. Senator Louis P. Hill, a non committee member was present and participated in the hearing. It appears that the other senators did think it was important enough for their participation or maybe they believed they would expose themselves unnecessarily, a political risk. It was apparent that very few of the senators did any homework on the issues on the agenda. They heard that Mr. Rodney Miller had appealed to the community for support and they panic. Unfortunately, the attendance was not as we had hoped, neither the AARP members nor the public at large was were present in the numbers we would expect for such an important issue.
Mr. Rodney Miller, CEO of the Roy L. Schneider Hospital was very eloquent, very passionate and convincing in his plea for help from the Senators to provide the financial assistance needed to keep the hospital development on track. He shared his vision for the hospital and outlined the growth of the hospital since he came on board. The senators present seemed impressed and supportive.
The politicians have a way of half stepping but want credit for full steps. The hospitals were given semi autonomy, now the board and the CEO of the Roy L. Hospital have proven they are serious in providing a higher standard of care than the past. The hospital has won accreditation and is modernizing the facilities and adding needed specialists to its staff. We want to reward the hospital for all the improvements made and planned. We support full autonomy for the hospitals with the adequate support of the central government.
We propose that we modify the administrative structure of the hospitals. Presently there is a territorial board and two district boards. That is not an efficient way to run a hospital system. We believe it would be more efficient to have one territorial board that would over see the hospitals in both districts and establishing one standard for both hospitals and better coordination. We believe that the Roy L. Schneider Hospital, has proven to be ahead in its development to the Juan Luis Hospital on St Croix. The senators expressed their concern for uniformity of the hospital services in the territory. By integrating the hospitals we could also cut down on cost due to duplication and other factors. We could have a CEO and an assistant CEO sharing the responsibilities of administering the integrated hospital system of the Virgin Islands. One purchasing department, one personnel department, one finance or accounting department would go a long way in improving the overall hospital services in the territory. We trust the senators would exercise common sense, vision and courage by granting full autonomy to a new territorial hospital system. The Senate should remove politics and other bureaucratic red tape from health services. The community would be very grateful for such actions on the part of their representatives in the legislature. We could possibly promote health tourism or at least let our visitors feel safe in a community with excellent hospital services throughout the territory. Citizens of the Virgin Islands lobby the senators to approve a reorganized territorial hospital system.
J.J. Estemac
Editor