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US should apologise to USVI for past sin- USVI Senator 'Positive' Nelson

During a Committee on Government Services, Consumer and Veterans Affairs hearing held on Thursday April 21, 2016, Terrence A. 'Positive' Nelson, the veteran Independent Citizens Movement (I.C.M.) senator, said the United States should apologise for its sin of purchasing the territory from Denmark without giving [US] Virgin Islanders input in determining their destiny, a wrongdoing he said Denmark is guilty of as well. Photo: VIC
VI CONSORTIUM

FREDERIKSTED, St Croix, USVI— During a Committee on Government Services, Consumer and Veterans Affairs hearing held on Thursday April 21, 2016, Terrence A. 'Positive' Nelson, the veteran Independent Citizens Movement (I.C.M.) senator, said the United States should apologise for its sin of purchasing the territory from Denmark without giving [US] Virgin Islanders input in determining their destiny, a wrongdoing he said Denmark is guilty of as well.

It’s a stance that became more mature on Thursday, but Mr. Nelson has harboured that idea for sometime.

“I feel there’s been no transfer of power,” Mr. Nelson said earlier in April during a debate on the issuance of Centennial license plates. “There was a transfer of ownership; and [US] until Virgin Islanders rise up and empower themselves into what really should have happened in 1917 when a free people were sold without any input, that’s the discussion we really need to be having if we’re really serious and conscious about what happened.”

On Thursday, Mr. Nelson revealed that he’s sponsoring legislation that would call on Governor Kenneth E. Mapp to require an apology from the U.S. and Denmark during 2017 Centennial events.

“The real discussion that we should be having is should we require the governor to request an apology from Denmark and the U.S. at the Centennial. That would be appropriate. That would show that we understand that we were wronged at least. And even if they never give it, just asking for it on a public stage says a lot about where we ought to be consciously. We can’t lead our people with the same level of misguided antics of the past,” Mr. Nelson said.

Mr. Nelson, making mention of a heated debate that occurred on Wednesday between himself, Senator Sammuel Sanes and historian and radio personality Mario Moorhead during a protest against youth violence at the Legislature building in Frederiksted, said the territory should rise out of self-pity, which he says breeds oppression.

“So when we’re going to talk about the Centennial, talk about where we need to be going, where we want to go, where is our vision for the future and not rely on America or Denmark to determine for us. Our future must be intentional. And we as the people sitting in these seats to make certain determinations, should be focused and geared towards doing that,” Mr. Nelson said.

He added: “So I want to see who’s going to be supportive with me in supporting the legislation to ask our dear governor to request an apology from Denmark and the United States during our 100-year celebration. Who’s going to stand with me to show that we are a people who understand that we have been wronged and we’re not going to be wallowing in self-pity, but we have a clear direction, and are going to have a relationship with our Caribbean neighbors to empower us economically and culturally.

“Who’s going to stand with me when they’re going to say about what they do with us — whether they want to tie us to Puerto Rico because of Puerto Rico’s situation. I’m tired of the Virgin Islands being considered the poor house of America. We are a rich people with a flamboyantly rich history, and our history is greater than the Virgin Islands; greater than the Caribbean. Our history is world history and too many times we limit ourselves and we segregate ourselves.”

Hypocrisy?

But if the senator who spoke after Mr. Nelson on Thursday is any indication, support for Mr. Nelson’s apology-requesting legislation may be dead on arrival.

Mr. Nelson, the sole I.C.M. public official was assailed by Senate President Neville A. James, who suggested that there was hypocrisy in Mr. Nelson’s impassioned stance.

“Some of the things that were said by the previous speaker I’m opposed to, notwithstanding our friendship,” Mr. James began, referring to Mr. Nelson. “Apology from America for what?” he asked, his voice slightly raised. “We have a bad habit here. When we graduate from high school we can’t wait to go to America to go to college; our hospitals crumbling because we’re running going to Cleveland Clinic. Let us be careful with what we’re saying.”

Mr. James, reminding senators that he’s a history major, said the discussion “could get real good,” but refrained from continuing down that path as the hearing was held to determine the territory’s status in regards to Bureau of Motor Vehicles progress on the mandatory Real ID Act.

Should USVI seek independence?

On Transfer Day 2016, U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewel, said the territory could choose to remain with the U.S. or seek independence. Her remarks set off an impassioned debate among residents, most stating that the territory was ill-prepared to stand on its own.

On March 31, 1917, the U.S. purchased the Virgin Islands from then-owner Denmark, for $25 million. The territory has been part of the U.S. ever since, but residents have been withheld some of the rights that mainland citizens enjoy. For example, U.S. citizens born in the territory and live here cannot vote for president; an issue raised by both Governor Kenneth E. Mapp and Delegate to Congress Stacey E. Plaskett during their remarks at the this year’s Centennial commemoration in Christiansted. And there have been discussions in some local circles about the territory truly considering independence from the U.S., but residents that The Consortium has spoken with overwhelmingly expressed concern about parting ways with one of the greatest countries in the world.

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