The recent incident on the boardwalk of Christiansted...

Letter to the Editor 

The recent incident on the boardwalk of Christiansted has compelled me to write this letter to support the islands need for increased protection from violence. The community has once again been shocked and outraged by violence that all believe could have been prevented. This is a final desperate plea to Island Leadership and the Virgin Island Police Department (ViPD) to meaningfully act to save our beautiful island and community. 

I grew up on St Croix during a time of prosperity when both Hess and Martin Marietta were fully operational. I fondly remember field days and sports events at the facilities both these businesses afforded the community. In addition, the towns of Christiansted and Frederiksted were alive with stores, artisans, restaurants, and clubs where Crucians could enjoy both days and evenings without fear of violence. These factories are now gone and with it, a huge part of what drove the local economy. Since their departure, the island has attempted to bring back the life that was so prevalent in my youth, and at the heart of that revival is the Christiansted boardwalk. My wife and I return to the island as boardwalk business owners to help support the revitalization of the island. It has only been 6 months, and the business has faced multiple robberies and vandalism. However, nothing could have prepared us for the flagrant daytime murder of a person who by all rights was a local celebrity and a huge personality on St Croix. The idea that a person would ever attempt such a violent act in broad daylight on a crowded boardwalk with such impunity can only lead us to believe that the perpetrator knew there would be no police presence to stop them from the crime and fleeing the scene unscathed. 

All business owners on the boardwalk have been desperately pleading with the ViPD to help protect what is special and unique to the magnificent history and charm of our town. We all want our residents, employees, customers, and island visitors to feel safe walking, eating, and exploring our beautiful island. The realization that daylight is now to be feared as much as a dark street is terrifying. 

The boardwalk is the beating heart of Christiansted, and it is slowly succumbing to crime and violence. We cannot allow our children and our island personalities to be taken away from us so flagrantly by meaningless violence. Without immediate and deliberate action by our leadership and the ViPD, the businesses on the boardwalk will not be able to survive and the people of St Croix and future island goers will not have the boardwalk businesses to enjoy on those spectacular days we all love. We Crucians cannot allow this to happen.