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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 12:56 pm
by sapphirecat
[quote="RickG"](posted from Island Blues)
I just picked up on this and haven't read the original article... (snip)
Come on, this is not an indictment of St. Thomas,"
Hi RickG,
I don't think it is, either.
I am worried, though, that STT really can't take more development. In the papers recently there were stories about proposed mega constructions (lets hope these are not approved). Even if, once approved and built, these were somehow both beautiful and invisible I think that very quickly sewage would become a terrible, terrible problem. There's no way around this.
And on another avenue, I think CA would gain back a lot of friends if the cabs and their bellowing drivers were kept off Main Street (I thought they had been banned, has anyone noticed?) and the barkers, too. These people make taking in the town very unpleasant and I seriously doubt they do anything at all for the businesses who hire them. I do my best to stay away from any place the barkers are shouting about.
cat
Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 6:57 pm
by RonUSVI
I am a 4th generation Virgin Islander. My great grandfather at one time owned a great portion of St John. His heirs sold their inheritance to various people and perhaps Rockefeller. My side still retained Leinster Bay until we sold it to the NPS in the early 70s. Believe me, even at that time there were higher bidders, but we did what was right.
Currently I serve on so many boards that I can hardly count them. I serve as a Commissioner on the Historic Preservation Commission. I am also the President of the St Thomas Historical Trust. I am also on the board of the hotel association. I guess I enjoy living in the past. I also monitor a lot of these boards to see what I can do to help. Been here on this one and few others since their inception. I have seen all kinds of comments about these islands. I have seen the STJ folks, as well as the BVI folks, always bash St Thomas. It is what it is. Those of us now are not responsible for what happened. We have welcomed folks to our islands for over a century. I have post cards mailed in the early 1900s attesting to the fact that tourists came here, even then.
I know our tourism product needs help. I have also been working an Governor DeJongh's task force for the revitalization of Charlotte Amalie. Hopefully some of our actions will be reflected very soon. We meet with him next week to discuss our findings. One of my assertions about the fixing up of the corridor from the airport to the town area, was that we have to take it all the way to Red Hook, based on the reports I read here about what people feel and think about St Thomas, judged solely on their taxi ride. It hurts to read these things, really. It's a shame that we have so many people that live here that could give a rat's ass about anything around here, after all, we are a minority in our own home! The garbage, the abandoned cars, the unfinished houses, you name it. The surly people, don't get me started on them.
I have been on a rant here and have much more to add but will stop for now. Once again, I love tourists who come here. You are the reason we survive here.
The only checks we want you to write is toour worthy causes. In STJ, my Rotary Club(Yes, I belong to the club over there even though I live in STT!) has an annual scholarship always in need funds. It's named for little Javon Alfred that was driven over by one of those large truck traversing Cruz Bay. I do not mean to chase you away.
BTW. I am thankful for the article. It's a blessing in disguise. We will have a document to substantiate our findings on the task force!
Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 7:43 pm
by California Girl
Ronnie: Is there any way St. Thomas could limit the number of cruise ships allowed in port during the week, or whatever? I have to agree with SapphireCat about the barkers, though. Ick. 
Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 7:49 pm
by RonUSVI
We are trying to eliminate the barkers, as well as to stop the taxis on Main Street. As well as move the vendor's plaza! The cruise ships have pretty much been cutting themselves back with no more than 8 in a day. I have seen 15 one day and 13 less than 10 years ago!
Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 8:27 pm
by Terry
Ron,
You are a amazing person. You give. Don't beat yourself up. The STJ fund is still good and I'm glad we gave toward that even though other desinations have catched our detination. Thank you for all of your hard work!
Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 8:32 pm
by bert
Ha – I’m sure Ron has seen more than just 40 years of VI history!
You all want to have it both ways. You want all the comforts of home on an island that cannot sustain you all. Where does your waste go? Into the harbors and bays, and into the eyesore landfill. Just one example of many. We should all just raise our prices, Like St. Barths, and keep everything exclusive.
Cruise ship vacations are the bomb! I take at least one per year! DSDF.
Peace…. bert
Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 6:58 pm
by flip-flop
Thank you Ron for your perspective. It is always interesting to see things through a local lifelong VI residents eyes. Wow, what changes you have seen. It is so easy to trash a place when you don't think of the individual faces and lives impacted.
I am one who loves STJ but also continues to explore other options. I would not put a cruise as my number one pick, but I wouldn't refuse the right opportunity. My in-laws LOVE them because its an easy way for all of the family to get what they are looking for & they know the kids are relatively corraled.
It was interesting to me that the other island I am dying to get to (Nevis) is ranked the same as STJ.
I think this is also very much a function of the difficulty and expense one must go to to get somewhere. I have lots of friends who would not dream of taking 12 hours to get anywhere. For us we leave our house around 4 am and don't hit STJ until 4 or so that evening. Quite the ordeal but totally worth it to us.
I will say that I have not met an unkind person on either island. Every cab driver, restaurant worker and ferryperson I have met has been helpful and gracious, when shown a little common courtesy. Those ferry guys saved our butts one time when we had more luggage than hands and a kid in tow. The ferry wasn't coming for 1.5 hours and they said they would take care of our stuff, to go get a bite to eat (we were STARVING) and come back when it was time to pull away for STJ.
If my toes are in the sand I am a happy camper. I am one of the few anymore who seems to like Jamaica. Perhaps it is because I honeymooned there in Negril. My personal bias is against "all inclusives" well at least the walled off ones. If I can't go somewhere and get a taste of the real flavor of the place then I don't want to go. The entire reason I travel is to be exposed to other cultures, customs, ideas. I digress.
Here's to hoping that STT can pull it together and make the improvements it needs to make to be a world class destination again.