Crucian Chronicles

Immigrant Labor

The debate on immigration policy in the U.S. is heating up.  Most of the talk centers around illegal Mexican immigrants.  On one side of the coin you have President Bush proposing a Guest Worker Program.  On the other side of the coin are the paleoconservatives like Lou Dobbs and Pat Buchanan who cringe at the thought of giving legal status to illegal immigrants.  The Guest Worker Program would allow gainfully employed illegal immigrants to remain in the country temporarily, during which time they can pursue legal migrant status.  I'm with Dobbs and Buchanan on this one.

At the heart of George Bush's argument is his belief that illegal immigrants help the American economy by doing jobs that Americans don't want to do.  That's a crappy argument.  There isn't a job that some American is not willing to do.   Americans  will strip, sell drugs, prostitute themselves, shoot porn, and do every other despicable and self-degrading job imaginable as long as they are well-paid.

Being well-paid is the key.  With illegal immigrant labor, businesses see an opportunity to improve their bottom line by reducing their cost of labor.  Illegal immigrants would accept minimum wages, and oftentimes, less than minimum wages, to perform jobs that Americans would demand greater compensation for.  Not to mention, illegal immigrants usually don't complain about the lack of a benefits package either.  Illegal immigrants allow business to bypass the free market rules of supply-demand that would allow the limited supply of workers in certain jobs to demand higher wages.  Instead, businesses can replace them with cheaper labor.

Americans can't be blamed for not rushing into labor intensive jobs, with poor working conditions, meager benefits, and low wages.  The current federal minimum wage of $5.15 is not a livable wage.  Any adult that earns $5.15 an hour is automatically living below the poverty level.  For Mexican immigrants that may be a step up, but for Americans its just a step above servitude.

American businesses need to support American ideologies and allow the free market system to work not just for the businesses but also for the laborers.  Illegal, in this case, should remain illegal.

TriniJungleJuice!

Yes, I've been busy again.  But not to busy to find an awesome Caribbean music site TriniJungleJuice.com.  This is an excellent place to find out what's currently hitting in Trinidad.  But if that's not good enough for you, check out what has got to be the best music video ever produced in the Caribbean.  Shurwayne Winchester's Dead or Alive .  Don't take my word for it, check it out yourself!

Hike up St. George's Gut

The St. Croix Hiking Association was doing what it does best again this past Sunday.  I joined them for the first time this year ending my semi-retirement.  (I had not hiked with them since our St. Kitts-Nevis trip last year.)  Olasee Davis was the fearless leader this time around.

The hike started on the southwest of the Estate Springfield rock quarry.  We hiked up the stream bed until we got to a mini-waterfall.  (Mini compared to the waterfalls at Butler Bay or Caledonia Valley)  Along the way we saw tilapia fish swimming in the streams.  We visited a sugar mill a little ways off from the trail.  We even found an old Danish water catchment that is very reminiscent of a modern cistern.  The main event however, was the opportunity to bathe in the refreshingly cold, freshwater fall.  The fall itself is about twenty feet high and as you can imagine, even more enjoyable immediately after prolonged periods of rain like we had last month.  Nonetheless a good time was had by all.  I'll post some more pics in a photo album later for those who are interested.

The St. Croix Hiking Association meets at the first Wednesday of every month, at 6:00 PM in Room 103 of the Cooperative Extension Building at the University of the Virgin Islands. 

Cops Giving Speeding Ticket

Yes its true.  Believe it or not, I witnessed a VIPD squad car pull over a speeding motorist on the Melvin Evans Highway presumably to give them a speeding ticket.  I was minding my own business doing maybe 65, when a red sports car blew past me probably doing at least 80.  Then out of nowhere a squad car turned on its lights and started to give chase, eventually pulling the car over.  I travel back and forth on the highway almost every day of the week.  I have seen speeders (other than myself of course), tailgaters, and blatant red-light runners.  This was the first time in years that I have actually seen someone get pulled over.  Just when I thought they had stopped enforcing the speed limit on the Melvin Evans Highway.   It's good to know those new patrol vehicles are being put to good use.

Unfunny Funnyman Clay Travis

With one bad "joke", some jackass guy named Clay Travis managed to insult and offend an  entire U.S. Territory.  Clay Travis is an attorney at the firm of Dudley, Topper, and Feuerzeig on the island of St. Thomas here in the Virgin Islands.  He writes "humorous" columns for Virgin Verve newsletter and also publishes columns online at DeadlyHippos.com.  He has flown under the radar with his columns until recently when he decided to write about a mock fictitious interview he had with native son Tim Duncan.  In one "fabricated" interview, Attorney Travis managed to refer to Virgin Islanders as illiterate, suggest Virgin Islands women as being the ugliest in the world, refer to the Virgin Islands as a third world country, and end by suggesting that Virgin Islanders don't know the meaning of the word "fabricate".  Then in subsequent radio interviews he explained that it was all done in jest and meant to be funny.

Attorney Travis has since pulled his online postings concerning his feelings about life in the Virgin Islands as well as his photos from DeadlyHippos.com.  Unfortunately for him, there are hard copies of his comments already being circulated in the Virgin Islands community.  Here is a direct quote of his fictitious interview with Tim Duncan:

Clay: Do you miss the friendly people of the Virgin Islands?

TD: People in the VI are the meanest, lyingest, ugliest, dumbest, and biggest cheaters in the entire world.  So no, I don't miss them at all.

It could have been funny maybe if it actually had a punchline.  Instead it was just insulting.  Then there was this one:

Clay:  What's the biggest difference between the Virgin Islands and stateside?

TD:  The women.  Stateside women don't usually have mustaches, whereas in the Virgin Islands most women have mustaches.  Also, Virgin Islands women are the ugliest women in the world.

Virgin Islanders are very sensitive about our image, so we cannot stand individuals in our midst talking sh*t about us to the world while smiling to our faces. This is why Clay Travis ought to lay real low before he has an angry encounter with one of those ugly, mustached Virgin Islands women.

Forgive, but never forget!

Virgin Islands Spurs Ready For Season

To fully appreciate just how popular the late musician Nicholas "Nick" Friday was in the Virgin Islands, you just have to realize that since Tuesday, at the water cooler and in the bar room conversations, his death has totally eclipsed the San Antonio Spurs who opened their 2005 NBA training camp on St. Thomas last Sunday.  Nonetheless, Timmy and the Spurs were able to steal the spotlight back with their intrasquad scrimmage game last night at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center.

I had the priviledge to be courtside and even got me an autograph from the Pride of Catherine's Rest himself, Timothy Duncan.  It was absolutely amazing to see the crowd going wild for a practice game like if it was an actual NBA matchup.  We was doing the wave and everything.

Yes, Timmy convinced the Spurs organization and Coach Gregg Popovich to begin preparation for their title defense in Timmy's own back yard.  I must say, they have the leg up on the competition.  They are spending the week training in relative peace from the probing stateside media.  They are staying at the luxurious  Ritz Carlton resort on St. Thomas.  They spent Saturday chilling on the beach.  And Tony Parker even got to bring along his personal bedroom buddy friend, Eva Longoria of Desperate Housewives fame.  (That girl is real tiny.  Almost midget-size.)  The team has been driving around St. Thomas escorted by a police motorcade.  A fitting way to start the season for the world champions.

By the way, new additions Nick Van Exel and Michael Finley fitted in perfectly.  If everyone stays healthy, this is going to be a great season.    

Rest In Peace Daddy

The Virgin Islands has lost a local legend.  Nicholas "Nick" Friday, better known to the Jam Band Massive by his stage name "Daddy Friday", passed away today in Roy Lester Schneider hospital from complications resulting from diabetes.  His death immediately sent shock waves throughout the Virgin Islands community and will undoubtedly result in weeks of mourning.  (St. Thomas isn't big enough to hold this funeral!)  Simply put, Friday was a musical genius whose popularity transcended generations.  But more than just a muician, he was a cultural icon.  He is as popular today in the Virgin Islands as he was 20 years ago.  He still does mek the young girls wuk up and the old ladies sing along!

As a Virgin Islander who went to college on the mainland, I can attest that nothing made us swell up more with V.I. pride than Jam Band in concert.  I saw them perform in Washington D.C. in 1996 and again in Miami in 2000 and they were every bit the musical ambassadors for the Virgin Islands.  Small island bands have always had difficulty competing for popularity with big island bands like Square One, Krosfyah, and Xtatic, but Jam Band always holds its own and represents for the V.I. Massive.  They just won the Soca Band Legend Award at the 3rd Annual Soca Awards ceremony in Trinidad this past Sunday.  Virgin Islanders are very hard to please but we have always supported Daddy Friday and the Awesome Jam Band to the fullest.  They commanded loyalty and we reciprocated.

The musical landscape is forever changed in the Virgin Islands.  Suddenly the big band for jouvert is a question mark.  Who else could have gotten Nu Vybes, Small Axe, and Byron Lee to try test on jouvert morning?  Who else could have led the 20 time Road March Kings of St. Thomas?  Who else could have made people do the Horse Chip or try to Kill the Rabbit?  Who else could have ordered Governor Farrelly to call off the curfew?

They say a prophet has no honor in his own land, but that was not the case with Daddy Friday.  His people loved him and he loved his people.

Rest peacefully Nicholas Friday.  May the love and admiration of your fans follow you wherever you may journey.

Virgin Islands Trivia

Which popular Virgin Islands band can be found on the sound track of a movie starring Denzel Washington?

Hint
They are one of the most popular bands in the Virgin Islands never to win a road march.

Hint
They're from St. Thomas.

Hint
Robert Townsend co-stars in the film.

Do you have it?
In 1989, Oscar-winner Denzel Washington starred as the chief of police of a Caribbean island alongside Robert Townsend in the Mighty Quinn.  One of the early chase scenes of the movie features Mary Jane performed by Seventeen Plus.  The soundtrack of the movie is still available for sale at several outlets.  With all due respect to Jam Band, Seventeen Plus is probably the greatest band to come out of the Virgin Islands.  They've been to Hollywood and back.

Mary Mary jumping up.  Mary Mary jumping up.  Mary Mary jumping up.  She jump so high and fall and bust her...

Things I Saw Today

Today I saw a tailor sewing on a 75-year old manual sewing machine  with his cell phone on the table right next to him.  Think about.

The Problem With Education - Part 3

The Commissioner of Education Noreen Michael made a decision this school year that made me very proud of her.  She decided to extend the school day by 30 minutes.  She explained quite simply that tacking on an extra half hour each day would result in an additional 90 hours of instructional time for students each school year.  Although I felt that Commissioner Michael was in over her head from the time she took the job, this time she was right and it was a stroke of genius.  Unfortunately, the teachers and their union didn't think so.

A series of well orchestrated sickouts has led the Commissioner to undo the changes to the school schedule.  Teachers who get the entire Summer off and who are usually home by three o' clock in the afternoon, felt that being asked to teach for an additional half hour each day was unreasonable.  They failed to see why this gesture was a step towards making a true commitment to education in our community.  And before I go any further, let me point out that I personally thought three algebra classes last school year for a small private school, so I have an idea of how difficult the profession can be. (I have promised myself that I will never do that again.)

But the fact remains, the Virgin Islands Code Title 17, Section 61 mandates that students receive at least 1080 hours of instructional time each school year. 

The school year shall begin no earlier than the first Tuesday after the first Monday in August and end no later than the second Friday in June, provided that the school calendar includes no less than 1080 hours of pupil instruction.

This is a requirement that has become less and less practical each year.  Primarily because teachers continue to negotiation all types of interruptions during the school year as part of their collective bargaining agreements.  My main pet peeve is  the Teacher Quest Professional Development conferences that are held in the middle of the school year.  Students are given the day off and schools are closed even though only a fraction of the teachers actually attend these conferences.  Most show their faces in the morning and disappear after the lunch break.  I just can't understand why these conferences can't be held during the Summer. 

Also, nowadays, with the advent of the block schedule, teachers get several days off to transition from the first to the second semester.  That was never the case when I was in school.  (Central High School Senior Class '92)  Then there is mother nature.  While students in the northern United States are going to school in two feet of snow, our schools are closed if it rains too hard.  It seems like we find any reason to close the schools and deprive our children of meaningful instructional time.

Of course the administrators always plan to make up these missed days at the conclusion of the school year.  But, in all practicality, that never happens.  The end of the school year in the Virgin Islands usually sees parents intentionally keeping their children home from school.  Sometimes to start Summer vacation trips early, other times to keep them out of end-of-school violence.  Other children simply refuse to go to school once their private school friends are home for the Summer.  Then there are the end-of-year parties and and senior skip days and all the other distractions.  So needless to say,  the deeper into the Summer you go, the less meaningful the classroom experience becomes.

That is why I totally understood the Commissioner's strategy.  It made perfect sense to me.  It was a chance to ensure that we provide our students with the minimum amount of classroom instruction that we have guaranteed them by law.  I am thoroughly disappointed by the Union's failure to put the needs of our students first and to save their qualms for contract negotiations with the administration.  We can not move forward as a community if we keep shortchanging the education of our youngsters.  The teachers have the union to advocate for their needs, who is advocating for the needs of our children.