>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫ ♫♫ >>> WHAT IS UP, EVERYBODY?

WELCOME BACK TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF "THE WELCOME MAT."

WE DECIDED TO GIVE ANDRES A BREAK TODAY BECAUSE IT IS WOMEN´S HISTORY MONTH.

>> I´VE BEEN GREAT.

I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE SEEN EACH OTHER FOR THE NEW YEAR.

>> I BELIEVE THAT.

I BELIEVE SO.

>> YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.

>> SO DO YOU.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU.

MARCH 1st MARKS THE START OF WOMEN´S HISTORY MONTH.

SINCE WE´RE HERE IN THE VI, WE WANTED TO TALK MORE ABOUT VI HISTORY BECAUSE THIS IS OUR TERRITORY, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> AND WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO -- WHAT VI HISTORY MEANS TO US IN THE TERRITORY.

WHAT IS IT TO YOU?

>> I WAS BORN HERE, RAISED HERE.

I AM VESTED HERE.

I LOVE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, EVEN ON THE DAYS WHEN I DON´T NECESSARILY LOVE LIVING HERE.

BUT I FEEL LIKE IT´S EMBEDDED IN ME.

I TELL ANDRES, I BORN HERE, I RAISED HERE AND I WILL BE BURIED HERE.

I´M ALWAYS EXCITED WHEN WE GET TO SHARE STORIES, SHARE ALL OUR HISTORY AND JUST TRULY CELEBRATE IT.

>> YEAH.

WHICH ISLAND WERE YOU BORN?

>> SAINT CROIX.

I HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE ON SAINT THOMAS NOW FOR I THINK LIKE 12 YEARS NOW.

I MOVED HERE IN 2010.

AND I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE.

>> AND YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE?

>> IF I HAD THE MONEY, I WOULD LIVE ON ST. JOHN, ACTUALLY.

>> REALLY?

THAT´S A NEW ONE.

WHY?

>> ST. JOHN IS JUST SO PEACEFUL.

LIKE I HONESTLY LIKE -- SAINT THOMAS IS THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE AND I HATE DRIVING OVER HERE.

>> YEAH.

>> SAINT CROIX IS HOME AND I LOVE GOING HOME, AND IT´S -- YOU KNOW, IT IS A VIBE.

LIKE SAINT CROIX IS A VIBE.

IT´S JUST DIFFERENT.

>> SAINT CROIX, YEAH.

IT IS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT ST. JOHN I LOVE.

>> SAINT CROIX HAS GOOD FOOD, TOO.

>> SAINT CROIX DOES HAVE THE FOOD.

A LOT OF GROWN MEN WILL BE MAD AT ME FOR SAYING THAT.

>> I MEAN, I´M A TRUE VIRGIN ISLANDERS, BUT I DON´T FEEL ANY NEED TO COMPETE BECAUSE ALL THE ISLANDS ARE MINE.

>> EXACTLY.

I´M A VIRGIN ISLANDERS AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> SAINT CROIX GOT THE FOOD AND WE NEED TO ADMIT IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT´S THE REALITY, YOU KNOW?

BUT YOU SAID YOU -- YOU LIKE THE PEACEFULNESS OF ST. JOHNS.

>> UH-HUH.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE WAY ST. JOHN HAS KIND OF TRANSITIONED OVER THE YEARS?

>> IT BREAKS MY HEART.

IT DOES BREAK MY HEART.

WHEN I FIRST MOVED OVER HERE, YOU KNOW, IT DID TAKE ME BACK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE -- >> WHEN YOU FIRST MOVED OVER HERE.

>> WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO SAINT THOMAS AND I HAD VISITED ST. JOHN, IT WAS LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHEN I WAS HERE AS A TEENAGER, YOU KNOW?

AND IT IS SAD, ESPECIALLY HEARING THE STORIES FROM LOCAL ST. JOHNIANS, THOSE WHO HAD TO GIVE UP FAMILY PROPERTY AND DONATE IT OR WHATEVER IN ORDER TO KEEP LIVING ON THEIR OWN FAMILY LAND, IT IS VERY SAD AND IT´S DISAPPOINTING WHERE WE ARE NOW AS A COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH.

>> AND WHAT HAS ESSENTIALLY HAPPENED BECAUSE OF COLONIZATION.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

SO BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROVIDES US WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE MANY ASPECTS OF OUR RICH HISTORY AND CULTURE.

AND I THINK OFTEN WE TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.

EVERY YEAR DURING MARCH WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THE TERRITORY BY RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS BY THOSE WHO COME FROM HOME.

VIRGIN ISLANDERS HAVE PROVEN TO BE A RESILIENT PEOPLE AND WE HAVE OVERCOME MANY CHALLENGES FROM SLAVERY TO MAJOR HURRICANES AND ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS, THE PANDEMICS.

LEARNING ABOUT OUR PAST REMINDS US OF OUR LONG HISTORY OF PERSEVERANCE DESPITE THE ADDS.

MY QUESTION IS, NINA, DO YOU THINK WE´RE DOING A GOOD JOB OF CARRYING THE TORCH OF THOSE BEFORE US SO -- YOU KNOW, SO DILIGENTLY WORK TO?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT IT´S KIND OF SPLIT.

I FEEL LIKE IT´S KIND OF SPLIT.

I DO THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF US WHO ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CULTURE ALIVE, KEEP THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, YOU KNOW, ON A GOOD PATH, ON A RIGHTEOUS PATH.

>> YEAH.

>> I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING A DISSERVICE TO US.

YOU KNOW, I -- IT MIGHT SOUND A BIT CONTROVERSIAL, BUT I DO SOMETIMES SAY THAT THERE ARE THOSE OF US WHO ARE SELLING THEIR OWN DOWN THE RIVER AND IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING AND HEART-BREAKING WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IF THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I WILLING TO FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS CONTINUES TO BE FOR VIRGIN ISLANDERS THAT OUR CHILDREN WILL BE BETTER OFF IN THE FUTURE.

BUT I DO THINK THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

>> YEAH.

>> IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> RIGHT.

I -- I AGREE WITH YOU.

I THINK WE DO HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

AND I THINK THE WORK IS ON -- ON BOTH ENDS BECAUSE THEY´RE TALKING ABOUT PASSING THE TORCH, RIGHT?

AND THERE IS TWO PARTIES INVOLVED IN THAT.

THERE IS THE GENERATION BEFORE THAT, AND THEN THERE IS THE GENERATION WHO NEEDS TO HAVE THE TORCH.

>> YES.

>> AND IT´S A TWO -- IT´S A TWO-PART THING TO ME BECAUSE THERE ARE THOSE PEOPLE IN OUR GENERATION THAT ARE READY TO TAKE THE TORCH.

>> YES.

>> AND THEN THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE LIKE, WHATEVER, FORGET THE TORCH.

>> YOU FEEL LIKE THEY ALREADY -- THEY DON´T WANT THE PATH IT´S ON.

THEY STILL HAVE SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO.

>> RIGHT.

I FEEL LIKE THOSE FROM THE GENERATIONS AHEAD THAT ARE HOLDING ON SO TIGHTLY TO THIS CHURCH THAT THEY´RE SUFFOCATING US.

THEY´RE NOT PUTTING THEIR TRUST IN US TO CONTINUE THE GROWTH OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING AND DISHEARTENING.

>> IT IS.

I THINK -- I THINK WE HAVE A HISTORY OF THE OLDER GENERATION OF HAVING TO PROVE TO THEM, PROVE OUR WORTHINESS.

>> YEAH.

>> TO THEM.

SO BEFORE THEY CAN SAY, OKAY, I DON´T GIVE YOU A CHANCE.

AND IT´S DISAPPOINTING THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED AND THAT´S OCCURRING.

I DO THINK THAT IT´S KIND OF STEMMED FROM ONCE PASSING IT ON AND MAYBE NOT PUTTING IT IN THE RIGHT HANDS.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IT´S A BALANCE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

THIS CONVERSATION DEFINITELY NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND PEOPLE NEED TO BE WILLING TO COME TO THE TABLE TO BE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER´S POINTS OF VIEWS AND FIGURE OUT A WAY HOW WE COULD INTEGRATE THE PRESENT, THE CURRENT GENERATION WITH THE OLD GENERATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE´RE KEEPING OUR HISTORY ALIVE BUT THAT WE´RE ALSO, YOU KNOW, USING OUR FORESIGHT.

>> EXACTLY, YOU KNOW.

THAT WE´RE NOT -- THAT´ WE ARE BEING PROACTIVE.

>> CORRECT.

>> WITH THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THAT WE´RE NOT BEING REACTIVE TO THE TIMES AND WHAT´S HAPPENING.

>> EXACTLY.

IT´S LIKE RAISING A FAMILY, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> SO I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MY CHILDREN KNOW ABOUT.

LIKE THERE IS SO MUCH THINGS IN TECHNOLOGY.

AND WE´RE FROM A TECHNOLOGY ERA.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> BUT THINGS ARE PROGRESSING SO RAPIDLY.

>> SO FAST, YES.

>> THAT THERE ARE THINGS THEY ARE TEACHING ME WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNOLOGY.

>> UH-HUH.

>> AND, SO, I HAVE TO TABLE WITH THEM SOMETIMES AND SAY, OKAY, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU KNOW?

OKAY.

WELL, THIS IS WHAT I KNOW.

SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU FEEL LIKE THIS SHOULD BE OKAY OR THIS IS, YOU KNOW, BUT LET´S -- LET´S KIND OF WORK ON SOME BALANCE HERE SO THAT WE COULD MOVE FORWARD SMOOTHLY.

YOU COULD HAVE SOME OF THE OLDER WISDOM, BUT I WILL LEARN FROM YOUR NEW KNOWLEDGE.

YOU KNOW?

AND SO IT´S KIND OF LIKE THE SAME AS THAT.

LIKE WE JUST NEED TO, LIKE YOU SAY, LEARN TO SIT AT THE TABLE RESPECTFULLY AND INTEGRATE IDEAS.

DO YOU FEEL -- SPEAKING ABOUT CHILDREN, DO YOU THINK LIKE -- AND I KNOW YOUR DAUGHTER IS VERY YOUNG, SO WE´RE NOT THERE YET.

BUT DO YOU THINK THAT WE´RE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN VI HISTORY ENOUGH?

DO YOU THINK WE´RE DOING A GOOD JOB OF TEACHING THAT HISTORY?

DO YOU THINK IT´S EVEN IMPORTANT TO DO THAT?

>> I THINK IT´S VERY IMPORTANT.

I THINK IT´S LIKE CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR CHILDREN KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT DON´T KNOW THEIR HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT THEIR PAST.

I BELIEVE THAT.

I THINK IT´S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO CONTINUE TO TEACH VIRGIN ISLANDS HISTORY.

I DON´T THINK THAT IT´S BEING TAUGHT AS MUCH AS -- MAYBE THIS IS JUST ME PERSONALLY.

I DON´T HAVE YOUNG KIDS.

BUT I DO REMEMBER THE EVENTS FROM WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

I FEEL LIKE I DON´T SEE IT AS MUCH ANYMORE.

I FEEL LIKE WE´RE LOSING A LOT OF THOSE JUST TRADITIONAL EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS AND TEACHINGS THAT OCCUR WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, AND I -- I -- IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THEY´RE NOT ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THAT AS MUCH.

>> THAT´S TRUE.

>> I DO THINK THAT WE DO HAVE TO BE MORE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO TAKE MORE OF AN INITIATIVE.

AND IT´S NOT SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO HOLD ON TO THE PAST AND NOT GROW FROM THERE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> IT IS EMPOWERING TO KNOW WHERE WE COME FROM.

>> IT IS OUR HISTORY.

AND I -- I DO THINK THAT IT DOES PLAY A PART IN THE INFLUX OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT NATIVE VIRGIN ISLANDERS.

>> RIGHT.

>> TO THE -- TO THE ISLANDS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THINGS CAN KIND OF GET MUDDIED AND THINGS GET LOST AS TIME GOES ON.

>> YEAH.

>> AND IT´S -- IT´S UP TO NATIVE VIRGIN ISLANDERS TO WANT TO SHARE THAT HISTORY WITH LOCAL VIRGIN ISLANDERS BECAUSE I DO THINK THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A NATIVE VIRGIN ISLANDER AND A LOCAL VIRGIN ISLANDERS.

>> I AGREE.

THERE IS SO MUCH RICH HISTORY AND A LOT OF US DON´T EVEN KNOW ABOUT.

YOU KNOW?

THERE IS SO MANY NOTABLE VIRGIN ISLANDERS EVEN -- THEY´RE NOT JUST NOTABLE HERE.

THEY´RE NOTABLE IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE EDWARD LYDON WHO WAS A TEACHER IN THE U.K.

HE WAS A MAJOR, I GUESS WHAT WE WOULD CALL INFLUENCER BACK IN THE DAY.

ONE OF HIS PROTEGES WAS MARCUS GARVEY, WHO WAS ONE OF HIS STUDENTS.

YOU KNOW, AND SO -- AND SO MANY OF US HERE ARE RELATED TO THESE GREAT PEOPLE, THE SIBLEYS, THE -- YOU KNOW, JUST SO MANY OF THEM.

MY MIND IS GOING BLANK RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS REALLY EMPOWERING FOR OUR CHILDREN TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHERE I CAME FROM.

THIS IS THE LINEAGE I CAME FROM.

YOU KNOW, AND IT HELPS THEM TO UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE REALIZE, OH, MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS A TEACHER.

THAT´S WHY I FEEL SO -- THAT´S WHY I WANT TO TEACH.

>> YES.

VERY MUCH SO.

>> SO IT IS VERY EMPOWERING FOR OURSELVES, FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO JUST KNOW WHERE WE HAVE COME FROM.

>> YES.

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE.

SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CULTURE HERE, WE HAVE TO DISCUSS HOW MUCH WE HAVE SEEN IT CHANGE.

EVEN IN JUST THE LAST FEW YEARS.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CHANGING LOOK OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS?

>> I DON´T KNOW IF I WOULD CALL IT NECESSARILY A FACE LIST.

I´M BEING FUNNY.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT I DO NOT APPRECIATE TRANSPLANTS.

MOVING TO OUR ISLANDS AND LOVING OUR ISLANDS BUT NOT LOVING THE PEOPLE AND NOT EMBRACING THE CULTURE OF OUR ISLAND ESSENTIALLY.

LIKE OUR SUGAR MILLS.

IT´S NOT SOME GREAT ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN THAT´S LIKE, OH, COME VISIT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND YOU COULD OWN THIS PIECE OF HISTORY.

BECAUSE SO ME THAT´S SAYING YOU COULD OWN A PIECE OF SLAVERY.

>> RIGHT.

>> THAT´S NOT RECOGNIZING THE HISTORY OF OUR ISLANDS.

>> IT´S EXPLOITING IT.

>> AND TO ME IT IS WHITEWASHING IT AND I TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT.

I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH PEOPLE WANTING TO COME TO THE ISLANDS AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES HERE BECAUSE AS CITIZENS OF THE WORLD, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FREELY AND PLANT OUR ROOTS WHERE WE FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE.

I HAVE NO ISSUES WITH PEOPLE WANTING TO COME HERE AND BE VESTED WITH THE ISLANDS.

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE THAT COME HERE AND WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR ISLANDS.

ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE VIRGIN ISLANDERS WHO ARE IN POOR ECONOMIC SITUATIONS.

COMPANIES COMING HERE AND TRYING TO DO GOOD THINGS FOR THE ECONOMY, BUT INSTEAD HAVE THEIR OWN PEOPLE MOVE HERE TO BECOME RESIDENTS TO REAP THE BENEFITS AND HIRE THOSE NEW RESIDENTS.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THEN CLAIM THAT THEY ARE DOING GOOD THINGS FOR OUR ECONOMY.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHILE THOSE OF US WHO ARE LOCALS AND WHO ARE VESTED, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE SUCH A HARD TIME BEING ABLE TO RECEIVE THOSE EXACT SAME BENEFITS.

>> YES.

>> AND WE HAVE OURSELVES TO BLAME FOR THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO START HOLDING ONE ANOTHER ACCOUNTABLE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IT IS LIKE I SAID PREVIOUSLY, WE DO HAVE THOSE OF OUR OWN WHO ARE SELLING US DOWN THE RIVER.

>> YES.

>> JUST AS SIMPLE AS OUR TRADITIONAL, CULTURAL -- WHAT´S THE WORD I´M LOOKING FOR, LIKE THE BASKET WEAVING AND THE STORY TELLING AND, YOU KNOW, THAT´S ON US.

WE HAVE NOT PUSHED IT DOWN OR PUT IT IN THEIR FACE.

I´M SURE IF WE KEPT IT ALIVE -- BUT IF WE HAD -- IF THE REST OF US THOUGHT TO KEEP OUR CULTURE ALIVE, WE WOULDN´T BE ENCOUNTERING IT.

A LOT MORE PEOPLE WOULD BE UNCOMFORTABLE.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE THAT THEY´RE VESTED AND THEY LOVE THIS CULTURE.

>> YES.

>> OR I´M GOING TO JUST GET OUT.

>> THERE IS A COMPANY USING THE IMAGE OF OUR THREE QUEENS AND IT IS OWNED BY THOSE OF US WHO -- THEY´RE NOT -- IT IS NOT OWNED BY LOCALS.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THOSE WHO COME IN AND USE OUR TRADITIONAL IMAGERY FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL FINANCIAL GAIN?

>> I FEEL LIKE US LOCALS NEED TO MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR BASICALLY -- IF IT´S OWNED BY -- IF IT´S OWNED BY A CAUCASIAN OR WHITE PERSON, WHY ARE THEY MAKING -- WHY ARE THEY MAKING -- >> WE HAVE CAUCASIANS WHO ARE LOCALS, WHO ARE BORN HERE, WHO ARE RAISED HERE.

>> RIGHT.

>> WELL, I´M TALKING ABOUT THEM, PER SE.

>> OKAY.

>> I FEEL LIKE -- I FEEL LIKE IF IT´S A COMPANY OR PEOPLE THAT JUST CAME DOWN HERE AND THEY´RE NOT VESTED AND THEY DON´T HAVE ANY HISTORY WITH THE CULTURE, THEN THEY DEFINITELY NEED TO -- >> SEE, MY -- MY RESPONSE TO THAT IS WE AS LOCALS CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.

WE CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT THE IMAGERY.

WE CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT THEM USING IT FOR THEIR FINANCIAL GAINS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT´S ALL IT IS.

IT IS WORDS AND IT CAN FALL ON DEAF EARS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> BUT DO YOU THINK IT´S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PLACE ON A, LET´S SAY ON AN ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL WHERE YOU HAVE TO GO TO LICENSING AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO GET THESE APPROVALS.

>> YEAH.

>> WHERE YOU´RE NOT ALLOWED TO USE LOCAL IMAGERY.

DO YOU THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT SHOULD BE PUT IN PLACE?

>> I DON´T SEE WHY NOT.

BECAUSE THAT´S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN STOP IT FROM HAPPENING.

>> I DON´T SEE WHY NOT.

YOU KNOW.

I THINK IF THAT´S ANY MEANS TO PROTECT -- ANY MEANS OF PROTECTING OUR HISTORY AS WELL AS WHO IS BENEFITTING FINANCIALLY OFF OF OUR HISTORY.

>> FOR ME, IT ALWAYS TRIPS ME UP THAT NOW SOMEBODY HAS TRADEMARKS OR LICENSED OUR OWN IMAGERY NOW.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, FOR THEIR OWN FINANCIAL GAIN.

AND IT´S LIKE, YOU CAN´T EVEN APPRECIATE LIKE THE HISTORY, THE IMPACT THEY HAD ON OUR ISLANDS.

THAT´S WHY I´M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT IT IS TOLD IN A RESPECTFUL AND APPROPRIATE WAY.

THAT´S WHY WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE´RE TEACHING THAT TO OUR CHILDREN.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS?

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS IN STORE FOR US?

>> I DON´T KNOW.

THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IS MY HOME.

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO RAISE MY CHILDREN HERE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE WORLD AS A WHOLE IS FACING ECONOMIC HARDSHIP.

AND I THINK THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IS DEFINITELY -- WE HAVE BEEN FEELING THAT ECONOMIC HARDSHIP FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AND SOMETIMES I JUST WANT TO GIVE UP.

>> YEAH BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN IS ENOUGH GOING TO BE ENOUGH?

>> YEAH.

>> WHEN IS IT -- LIKE HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST FOR YOU TO NOT SELL US DOWN THE RIVER, YOU KNOW?

>> CORRECT.

I MEAN, I FELT LIKE THE TYPE OF TOURISTS THAT HAVE STARTED TO COME SINCE THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN A DRASTIC CHANGE.

AND EVEN -- EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS -- THERE WAS A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, WHITE TOURISTS.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT´S FINE.

WE´RE AMERICA´S PARADISE.

OKAY.

BUT SINCE THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE A LOT OF WHITE AND BLACK TOURISTS, BUT THEY HAVE EVEN LESS RESPECT FOR THE ISLANDS.

>> I THINK THAT´S AMERICANS ON A WHOLE, THOUGH.

THAT´S AN AMERICAN CULTURE.

THAT´S AN AMERICAN -- A MAINLAND AMERICAN THING BECAUSE I HAVE SPOKEN TO PEOPLE -- A FEW YEARS AGO I WORKED WITH SOMEONE WHO WAS FROM GERMANY.

AND SHE WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, AMERICANS DON´T HAVE RESPECT.

>> YEAH.

>> SO IT´S AN AMERICAN THING.

THAT´S GOING TO CONTINUE HAPPENING.

>> YEAH.

>> IT´S NOT EVEN SO MUCH SO -- I DON´T THINK IT IS ANYTHING THAT WE CAN REALLY DO ABOUT THAT AS FAR AS THE TYPE OF BEHAVIOR THAT A TOURIST IS GOING TO EXHIBIT.

I THINK IT´S FOR US TO MAYBE, I DON´T KNOW, SHOW THEM A DIFFERENT TYPE OF WAY.

>> WELL, EXACTLY.

AND NOT ACCEPT THEIR BEHAVIOR.

>> YEAH.

DEFINITELY NOT.

LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS ON A BEACH ON SAINT THOMAS.

>> UH-HUH.

>> AND I WOULD REALIZE -- I DON´T GO TO THIS BEACH VERY OFTEN.

IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

SO I CAN SEE THE DRAMATIC CHANGE THAT´S HAPPENING BECAUSE NOW WHEN I´M THE BEACH, THERE IS TRASH EVERYWHERE.

>> YEAH.

>> I HAVE NEVER -- AND TO ME, IF I WAS WORKING ON THAT BEACH, I DON´T CARE HOW MUCH YOU ARE PAYING ME.

>> YEAH.

>> I´M NOT YOUR SLAVE.

THIS IS MY ISLAND.

MY CORAL, MY WATERS ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY YOUR NASTINESS.

I WILL LET EVERY PERSON I ENCOUNTER AND COME TO SERVE KNOW, HEY, NICE TO MEET YOU.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

WHEN YOU LEAVE THERE IS A TRASH CAN THERE, THERE, AND THERE.

WE CLEAN UP BEHIND OURSELVES.

>> YEAH.

>> WE CAN´T CHANGE WHO IS COMING, BUT WE CAN ENFORCE THEY RESPECT IT.

AND A FEEL LIKE A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE, A LOT OF OUR LOCALS OR A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT RESIDE HERE, MAYBE THEY ARE LOCALS OR MAYBE THEY ARE FROM WHEREVER ELSE, THEY´RE NOT REALLY ENFORCING -- >> THEY DON´T SEE.

THEY SEE.

IT´S NOT MY PROBLEM.

SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO DEAL WITH IT.

BUT IT´S OUR HOME.

IT´S OUR HOME AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RESPECT OUR HOME AND THAT OTHERS RESPECT OUR HOME BECAUSE YOU DON´T COME INTO SOMEBODY´S HOUSE AND DRINK YOUR WATER AND JUST GO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS AND WHATNOT.

SO WE HAVE TO APPROACH NIT THAT WAY.

>> YEAH.

I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU HOW DO YOU THINK WE FIX THIS GOING FORWARD?

BECAUSE I FEEL THAT´S THE ATTITUDE THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

YOU KNOW WHAT, IT IS WHATEVER.

I´M GOING TO TURN A BLIND EYE.

THEN OUR FUTURE IS IN JEOPARDY.

>> IT IS ON ALL OF US, YOU KNOW?

TOURISM.

BUT REALLY NOT TO MAKE A MOCKERY OF IT OR ANYTHING, TOURISM REALLY IS ALL OF US.

AND IT DOES -- AND IT´S NOT THE INTERACTION WITH TOURISTS, YOU KNOW?

IT IS OUR INTERACTIONS WITH EACH OTHER.

>> RIGHT.

>> IT IS OUR BEHAVIORS JUST IN GENERAL ON A WHOLE.

WHEN WE GO TO THE BEACH OURSELVES, MAKE SURE THAT WE´RE CLEANING UP AFTER OURSELVES.

WHEN WE´RE OUT DRIVING ON THE STREET, WE´RE NOT THROWING TRASH OUT OF THE WINDOW, YOU KNOW, THAT WE´RE NOT LEAVING OUR -- ABANDONING OUR CARS JUST ON THE STREETWAY, JUST LEAVING IT THERE FOR GOD KNOWS HOW LONG, THAT WE´RE CUTTING OUR GRASS, THAT WE´RE MAINTAINING OUR HOME, YOU KNOW?

>> YEAH.

>> AND IT´S NOT WAITING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND TO DO THIS OR DO THAT.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND ALSO WHEN IT IS THE GOVERNMENT´S JOB TO DO THINGS THAT WE´RE HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND WHEN THEY ARE NOT ACCOUNTABLE, THAT WE VOTE THEM OUT.

BUT THAT WE´RE CALLING THE APPROPRIATE OFFICES COMPLAINING.

YOU NEED TO CALL THE APPROPRIATE COMMISSIONER.

WE CAN´T ALWAYS SAY THAT, OH, THE GOVERNOR AIN´T DOING THIS.

ARE YOU CALLING THE APPROPRIATE OFFICES TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU´RE VOICING YOUR COMPLAINTS WHERE THEY´RE SUPPOSED TO BE?

>> CORRECT.

>> AND EVEN WHEN IT DOES COME TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU´RE NOT LIKING WHAT´S HAPPENING, VOTE THEM OUT.

WE HAVE TO START HOLDING EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE.

WE CAN´T JUST SAY, OH, THIS PERSON IS SUCH A NICE PERSON.

THEY´RE NOT DOING ANYTHING.

>> WHO IS -- I AGREE WITH THAT.

WHO IS THE GENERATION THAT YOU FEEL IS HOLDING THE TORCH RIGHT NOW?

>> I WILL SAY THAT THE TORCH IS SLOWLY GOING OUT AND THE -- >> IT´S LIKE -- >> THEY´RE HOLDING ON TO IT, BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE THOSE OF US IN OUR GENERATION, THE MID-20s TO 40s OR SO, YOU KNOW, WE´RE BECOMING THE -- >> THE POPULUS.

>> NO.

YOU KNOW, SO WE´RE LOOKING TO TAKE CHARGE.

SO THERE IS THE OLDER GENERATION THAT´S KIND OF -- THEY´RE STILL THERE, YOU KNOW.

THEY´RE STILL HOLDING ON.

>> YEAH.

>> AND I´M KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED IT´S NOT REALLY -- PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

OF THOSE WITH THE BAD BEHAVIOR INFLUENCE THOSE IN OUR GENERATION AND THE COMING GENERATION TO CONTINUE THE CORRUPTION AND THE MISMANAGEMENT THAT´S BEEN OCCURRING ON THE ISLANDS.

>> DEFINITELY.

SO WE HAVE TO SHIFT OUR MIND SET AS A PEOPLE AS A WHOLE.

>> DEFINITELY, AS A PEOPLE.

>> AND WE HAVE TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE, HOLD OUR GOVERNMENTS ACCOUNTABLE.

WE HAVE TO START TAKING PRIDE IN OUR VI AGAIN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I CAN´T BLAME PEOPLE FOR GETTING DISCOURAGED BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE SEE THE REPETITION OF CORRUPTION.

>> YES.

>> WE SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, BUT ALSO ON THE FLIP SIDE, IF ALL WE´RE GOING TO DO IS COMPLAIN ABOUT IT AND NOT CALL THOSE OFFICES, THEN NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE.

SO I COMPLETELY AGREE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

SO, YOU KNOW, SHIFTING OUR MIND SET IS -- IS A GOAL.

>> YEAH.

>> SHIFTING OUR PERSPECTIVE.

>> IT IS SHIFTING OUR MIND SET AND IT´S, YOU KNOW, HOLDING ON ALSO TO OUR HISTORY, YOU KNOW.

IT´S -- IT´S THE BALANCE.

>> I GOT TO CUT YOU OFF, UNFORTUNATELY.

THIS IS A GREAT CONVERSATION.

WE HAVE REACHED OUR TIME FOR TODAY.

BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR TUNING IN.

MAKE SURE YOU HIT US UP IN THE COMMENTS, TELL US WHAT YOU ARE THINKING.

WHERE THESE THINGS ARE HEADED AND HOW YOU ARE DOING YOUR PART TO UPHOLD IT.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME!

♫♫