While Virgin Islander’s and tourists from around the world basked in pageantry during the 60^th annual Virgin Islands Carnival, jump-up, march and jamboree, on St. Thomas,  the wheels of justice continued to turn concerning unfolding allegations of political corruption and financial mismanagement by VI government officials. According to most reports this year’s carnival was “the bomb” and ranked among the highest in terms of attendance from its auspicious beginning.  Concomitantly, the endless revelations pointing to official corruption in the context of the United States’ federal justice process, seems to be moving to the point of adjudication.

Impacting the jubilant orbit of carnival week, the Washington DC based national investigative news organ, The Daily Caller published on Monday April 30, 2012 another installment in their ongoing investigative report on alleged VI government corruption and official bribery scandal, authored by Matthew Boyle. “Former U.S. Virgin Island Senator David Jones helped his fellow Sen. Roosevelt David deliver cash bribes in the territory’s bribery scandal, The Daily Caller’s Department of Justice source said.

According to a knowledgeable government official who served on a Department of Justice team put in place to arrest finance executives close to that telecommunications deal, U.S. Virgin Islands Governor John de Jongh accepted a portion of a least $20 million in cash bribes that floated throughout the territory’s government.

The U.S. Department of Justice, source said, they never acted on sealed indictments related to a years-long criminal scheme involving bank fraud and other financial crimes.  The bribes, according to the source, were for de Jongh, his attorney general, Vincent Frazer, and assorted Virgin Islands legislators-all aimed at squashing local concerns about financial irregularities identified on the books of the National Rural Utilities Cooperation Finance Cooperative (CFC).

The Daily Caller has previously reported that the U.S. Department of Justice source said, David was the ‘bag man’ and ally of the governor and CFC who delivered the cash bribes from CFC to the governor.  The DC source said, Jones played a role similar to David’s but dealt more with local legislators and acted much more ‘behind-the-scenes’ than David.  According to the source, Jones delivered bribes to Virgin Islands Senators.

Some of the senators aren’t friends with him (Roosevelt David) in the sense that he could sit with them and work a deal out for them to vote on a bill, The DC’s source said, in a recent phone interview.  So, former Sen. David Jones would pick up where he (Roosevelt David) could not complete.  When in the U.S. Virgin Islands legislature, Jones served as Senate President-something that gives him more clout than the average former senator.  David Jones was one of those in the background lobbying other senators and working other consultants with Roosevelt David through the governor’s office, The DC’s source said.

The DC’s source also said that Roosevelt David was at one point cooperating with federal investigators on the case.  He, Roosevelt David was cooperating with federal agents originally and, of course with what has been revealed or determined now, he’s gone silent, the source said, adding that David has ‘gone mute’ because it’s been discovered his role in the case was much more substantial than originally thought.

But because we know so much more now, we don’t really need him, Roosevelt David, anymore. The DC’s source added.  The DC’s source also said Jones has ‘never cooperated’ with federal investigators.  The Daily Caller was unable to reach Jones for comment before the story.  In previous attempts to speak with David, he refused interviews and has hung up the phone.”

Gary James, who recently relocated to St. Croix from New York, has contacted Congressmen, Rangel and Conyers concerning the perception of political collusion between particular members of the US Department of Justice and VI government officials under indictment, which is why execution of the federal sealed indictments was truncated.  In his (James) letter to the congressmen, he said, “I am concerned that there are efforts underway to link President Obama’s reelection campaign with short circuiting movement on the alleged VI government corruption case, for political reasons.”

James is heading up a coalition of Republicans and Democrats in New York City, on behalf of the reelection of President Obama, and they are formulating a fundraiser a fall fundraiser for the Obama campaign. A spokesperson for Gary James said, “We trust that President Obama will in short order distance his reelection the campaign in order to avoid any perception of collusion with the administration of the non-voting Virgin Islands governor.”

On April 24, 2012 the Daily Caller reported that U.S. Department of Justice official Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich plans to resign his position shortly for allegedly providing misleading information to congress relative to the Virgin Islands bribery scandal and other matters.

Matthew Boyle of The Daily Caller published an article on April 16, 2012 that identified former U. S. Virgin Islands Senator Roosevelt David as the man who delivered cash bribes to Governor John de Jongh and others in the unfolding bribery scandal. According to their Department of Justice source, Mr. Roosevelt David denied this allegation as “nonsense” on a radio talk show in the VI on Thursday April 19, 2012.

The Daily Caller read, “According to a knowledgeable government official who served on the Department of Justice team put in place to arrest finance executives close to that telecommunications deal, de Jongh accepted a portion of at least $20 million in cash bribes that floated throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands government.”

“The U.S. Department of Justice, the source said, never acted on the sealed indictments related to a years-long criminal scheme involving bank fraud and other financial crimes.”

“The bribes, according to the source, were for de Jongh, his attorney general, Vincent Frazer, and assorted Virgin Islands legislators – all aimed at quashing local concerns about financial irregularities identified on the books of the National Rural Utilities Corporation Finance Cooperative (CFC).”

The question of a possible association, real or perceived, between the Obama campaign and unfolding revelations of government political corruption, financial malfeasance and mismanagement in the VI surfaced when a resident of St. Croix, raised that concern to his stateside political associate.

Gary James recently established residency on the “big island” of St. Croix and is undertaking research on his family ancestry on the island. James is a longtime political activist and analyst based in New York City and a strong supporter of President Obama’s reelection. While discussing presidential election 2012 he raised the association question to a state side political colleague, also a supporter of the president’s reelection.

The question of possible political linkages between corruption in the Virgin Islands and the Obama Department of Justice became an intriguing idea because of James’ grassroots community political credentials as a leader of the activist wing of the Republican Party.  James, chairman of the National Black Grand Old Party (NBGOP), recently made a public endorsement of the Obama reelection campaign.

The relevant (James) political associate and a longtime Harlem based Democratic Party political operative having links to the Obama campaign, and James were discussing the launching of a bi-partisan grassroots reelection initiative for the president.

James said, “There is a groundswell of political unity and support emerging in the Virgin Islands, and on St. Croix in particular, to recall members of the Board of Elections, the governor, and members of the legislature because of a plethora of political and financial corruption that has led to massive layoffs in both the public and private employment sectors.  The petition campaign to recall the members of the St. Croix Board of Elections, and trigger a new election has been successful.”

James continued, “The abounding egregious political facts on the ground perpetrated by government officials, legislative, executive and judicial, coupled with the alleged sealed indictments for Gov. De Jongh, AG Vincent Frazer and assorted legislators disclosed by The Daily Caller’s investigative reports, that broke a few months ago, has far reaching political implications.”

“If it is proven to be true that the execution of these sealed indictments were quashed at the highest levels of the U.S. Department of Justice it’s a very serious situation and there will be much concern and anxiety relative to the prospect of political collusion between the Federal and VI governments and troubling to Virgin Islanders going forward.”

“The specter of a corresponding component of political corruption extending from the government of the Virgin Islands to the highest echelons of the United States DOJ is an odious political machination for the aggrieved citizens of the VI… Also, I am concerned that our bi-partisan campaign effort on behalf of the reelection of the President is not truncated by some unforeseen political revelation connecting the VI scandal to the Obama campaign.”

James sent a letter (email) to Congressmen John Conyers and Charles Rangel, seeking clarification to determine if the perceived VI link to the Obama campaign is real…  James is organizing, 21^st Century Republicans for President Obama 2012, and his organization www.nbgop.info has formulated a grassroots political game-plan with Democrats in a bi-partisan strategic campaign initiative.

In addition to contributing to the bi-partisan grassroots political ground-game initiative on behalf of the reelection of President Barack Obama, James is spearheading an effort to encourage mainland Americans that have family roots in the Virgin Islands to establish their residency on the respective island and register to vote.

Many African Americans have family roots in the Virgin Islands, formerly known as the Danish West Indies.  Moreover, mainland African Americans that trace their roots to the various southern states may be surprised to learn that their roots extend to the Caribbean by way of the southern states where enslaved Africans were sold on the auction block, after first being “broken” on one of the European Colonies in the Caribbean.  Therefore, notwithstanding roots in the south, their families very likely arrived to the new world from the shores of one of the Caribbean slave colonies.

James’ research has thus far identified his great, great grandfather, Johannes James who was born into slavery in 1825 and lived at Estate Hermitage where he worked as a Cooper.  Johannes’ father Adam and mother Helena, also lived on the estate but according to the records examined so far, Adam did not have a surname and was listed with his wife as not baptized, according to Danish Records.

James is a veteran political activist and analyst in the States beginning with a three year stint as a staff community organizer for the National Welfare Rights Organization (NWRO), in the mid 1960’s under the leadership of Dr. George Wiley, President of the organization.  He (James) recently established residency on St. Croix and became inspired to participate as an informed voter in Virgin Islands electoral politics going forward.

James said, “I have discovered my birth-right here in the remnants of Estates Hermitage and Big Fountain, where my direct paternal line of ancestors labored as enslaved Africans, and whose remains are buried in the rich earth that is St. Croix.  I have found the resting place of my DNA as it was established in the western hemisphere and I intend to honor my family legacy and birth-right to help determine the future of St. Croix and the Virgin Islands…

I encourage other mainland African Americans to research their family ancestry in the Virgin Islands and other Caribbean countries and make every effort to establish residency there and become informed about the history and current events on the ground and prepare to participate in their country’s electoral future.”

“However” James concluded, “Our primary concern at this time is to reconcile the myriad questions surrounding the alleged sealed indictments, and the unfolding political facts on the ground.  Hopefully we can isolate our Obama grassroots campaign initiative from the perception of a conflict within elements in the U.S. Department of Justice and the alleged $20 million dollar bribery scandal with VI Government officials…”

Gov. Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican Party nominee for the White House, has a burden that seems to be the equivalent to the epic burden of Sisyphus.  While Romney’s nomination is generally accepted as a foregone conclusion, the political wounds that he continues to suffer by way of the social conservative and the Christian conservative contingents in the bygone party of President Lincoln will most likely prove to be lethal…

During the Republican Party’s Presidential nomination process of 2008, Romney was embraced as the conservative candidate as compared to the ultimate GOP nominee, Senator John McCain, but Romney is currently positioned as a moderate by the social and Christian conservative faction of the Grand Old Party.  Hence, the former Governor of Massachusetts is not conservative enough in the 2012 presidential election season.

However, many voters across political party lines view his current so-called lack of conservative credentials as a political ruse for the “any body but Romney movement.”  The most recent any body but Romney candidate, former Senator Rick Santorum has apparently fizzled out due to self inflicted wounds. But the former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, remains in the race in the mode of a rear guard action political campaign, hoping to steal the nod from Romney at the end of the day.  Unfortunately, the greatest political enemy of the “modern” Republican Party can be narrowed down to internal politics.

Interestingly enough, it was the stalwart conservative Republican, Senator Barry Goldwater, and a former GOP Presidential nominee that predicted the fate of the party, which is exemplified by the “Tea Party” political movement. While the conservative contingents of the Democratic Party lost their political hegemony in the south as a result of the success of the valiant civil rights movement, the post civil rights Republican Party in the framework of its “southern strategy” became the new “Jim Crow” and has morphed from their heretofore eclectic and progressive political motif.

Consequently, the “modern” Republican Party has now become synonymous with social and Christian conservatism.  This political transition has generated an attrition rate over the past forty (40) years that is on the brink of critical mass.  Therefore, some astute political analysts suggest that the 2012 presidential election may drive the GOP across the political Rubicon… Although it remains to be seen whether this presidential election will alter the Republican Party as we know it, the Tea Party political phenomenon has utterly recast Republican Party diversity into a constricted one dimensional political juggernaut.

The politically sophisticated right-wing of the GOP successfully took control of the national party platform as well as local politics in target states. However, their “minority” status relative to the political sensibility of the majority of America and their fifteen (15) minutes of fame will likely expire on Election Day 2012.  Their singular political, social and religious agenda has effectively isolated them from twenty-first century America and demonstrated a contemptuous political posture to Black and Latino Americans in particular and the immigrant community in general.

The post President Ronald Reagan Republican Party has committed political sins of omission that completely ignored and marginalized their exceedingly loyal black Republican base.  On the other hand their strident conservative ideology has offered only political lip service to American Latinos and the immigrant community.  Concomitantly, the sublime racial implications associated with many social conservative policy positions, offer little if any political redemptive qualities going forward.

Accordingly, Gary James Chairman of the National Black Grand Old Party (NBGOP) said, “I intend to argue on behalf of support for the re-election of President Obama at the May meeting of the organization, which is the last monthly meeting prior to the summer recess.”  James continued, “In 2008 the organization virtually spilt down the middle between Senator Obama and Senator McCain for the presidency.  I said publically that I intended to vote for Obama and granted an interview to Jacob Templin a journalism student at the Columbia University School of Journalism.  However, this time I will advocate that members of the organization seriously consider voting for the re-election of President Obama this time around.”

“The modern Republican Party has drifted far beyond the mainstream American electorate in general and has made every effort to either ignore black Republicans and in some instances they have maligned the black American community with impunity.  They have not respected nor have they earned the black Republican vote, hence the party does not deserve an affirmative black vote in November.”

Continuing, James said, “We need to begin to play hardball politics in the twenty-first century and work toward playing primary election politics in target states to reclaim and renew the illustrious Republican Party brand and legacy.”

For more information visit www.nbgop.info and to access James’ 2008 video interview click here.

"Gary James"

Your panel discussion concerning the relationship between the Republican Party and black American community is appreciated although well overdue…  However, the question is absolutely relevant and will likely continue in significance for the foreseeable political future.  Unfortunately, while your piece was timely and important, substantively it ranks among the typical.

As per the question, our observation and assessment concludes that the Republican Party leadership and the county, state and national levels are guilty of political sins of omission relative to engaging the black American community in a meaningful way.  This writer is an expert witness to the individually tailored resistance to political investment banking in the black community that occurs on the respective levels of participation.  In short, there is a political dichotomy between the national GOP and the state party.  In addition, there is a political dichotomy between the state and county Republican Party.  Hence, the political relation between the Grand Old Party of Lincoln and black American’s is complex, politically sophisticated and fraught.

The topical question, in terms of the 2012 presidential election relative to the Black GOP and community is indeed appropriate going forward.  As it relates to the national party’s report card on the prospect of black American out reach, we need only to reference the “southern strategy” concept as the general political prototype for dealing with the black community.  Another pertinent political imperative of Republican Party Presidential politics, as applied to black community is the so-called “sister Sojah” or “Jesse Jackson” moment.  Consequently, the relationship between the national Republican Party, vis-à-vis, black Republican’s and the black community leaves a lot to be desired, at best.

On the other hand the prevailing black political leadership is apparently circumscribed to politics 101, in the context of the civil rights political organizing paradigm.  The civil rights leadership orthodoxy and conventional black American elected leadership are preoccupied with traditional minority political juxtapositions, which represent a sophomoric approach to community and electoral politics.  Additionally, one party monolithic politics comprised of political “friends” against political “enemies” constitute the relative political facts on the ground.

The emotional and parochial nature of black American politics coupled with traditional ideas associated with the “races” and minority based electoral politics as promoted by popular media, drowns out the sophisticated political education that emanates from the grassroots level.  Therefore, advocates of black political power 2.0 continue to work to achieve escape velocity and pierce the political inertia articulated by the black leadership orthodoxy, the media, as well as the leadership of both political parties.

Eventually, the civil rights politics that hallmarked the period of Reconstruction in the 19^th century, and the modern civil rights movement of the 20^th century, will ultimately be eclipsed by 21^st century black power politics.  Nevertheless, we want to thank you for highlighting the relationship between the Republican Party and the black American community, as we view this as perhaps a beginning…

Concerning the destination of the black GOP in presidential election 2012, obviously that remains to be seen.  However, you may find our political position noteworthy relative to presidential election 2008, a video of which is linked herein.  This interview was conducted by Jacob Templin as journalism student at Columbia University School of Journalism in October of 2008. While the vote of the black GOP virtually split between Obama and McCain, my suspicion is that the President will do much better with black Republicans for his re-election.

You may be interested in the following relevant links:

GOP Black Activist and Presidential Politics

Perry’s Campaign ID’s 800 Pound Gorilla

GOP Activist Engages Black Political Confusion

Black GOP Between Rock and Hard Place

Sharpton and West Continue Political Barbs

Chains on Brains

Black Political Revolution

MSNBC: Black Agenda Disinformation

Race Based Political Hustle

"Gary James"

The management of the St. Croix Blogger Dot Com is please to acknowledge the vision and imagination of the owners of Black Political Taskforce Dot Org for inspiring and helping to facilitate the joint-venture that is formulated in the concept and application of Virgin Islands Going Forward Dot Com and Virgin Islands Fourth Estate Dot Com.  These ventures were born out of the merger between the parties which is immediate expressed by the content of STXbogger.com, going forward.

Prospects relative to the feasibility of a VI venture were initially researched by The JC Group, Inc.  Gary James was discovered to have direct paternal family ancestry on the island of St. Croix that dates back to at least 1825.  During that time African’s were enslaved on the three islands by Denmark, known during that period as the Danish West Indies.  The research revealed specifically that Jonas James was born into slavery in 1825 and lived at Hermitage Estate with his wife Augustine James.   Preliminary research indicates that “Adam” the father of Jonas was only known by his first name.  Gary James is a direct ascendant from the Adam line.  Subsequently, Gary established a company presence on St Croix, the “big island” which serves as a base of operation for the two projects Virgin Islands Going Forward Dot Com and Virgin Islands Fourth Estate Dot Com.

Advent of the Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. Thomas St. John), occurred on March 31, 1917, when they were purchased by the United States of America from Denmark.  This date is recorded in history as “Transfer Day” and it is commemorated annually by the governments of Denmark and the Virgin Islands respectively.  Prior to this period “Transfer Day,” the islands were known as the Danish West Indies, and were among the respective Caribbean Island colonies of the various European powers and they served as a staging venue for what is popularly referred to in history as the “international slave trade.”

Both projects, VI Going Forward (magazine), and VI Fourth Estate (newspaper) are portals representing a grassroots perspective on the history, current economic, political, social and cultural dynamics in the VI territory in the context of unfolding local as well as global facts on the ground.  Stay tuned while we develop our Internet presence going forward…

We cordially invite you to continue to access the St. Croix Blogger for on the ground coverage of events as they unfold in the Virgin Islands and Caribbean.  These unfolding developments will provide interesting comparisons; analogues and symmetries between the state of black politics between the VI and America, as well as on continental Africa and the Diaspora.  Stay tuned…

"rev. Al Sharpton"

The latest episode in the unfolding political soap opera saga that black “celebrity” leadership and orthodox civil rights leadership continue to engage centers around alleged attacks on Dr. Cornel   West  by, Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry, a professor at Tulane University and host of a MSNBC weekend show.  West characterized the attacks by his former colleague in The Nation and on cable TV as strictly personal.

West is responsible for bringing Dr. Perry to Princeton University in 2006, from the University of Chicago.  She held a joint appointment with the Center for African American Studies and the Department of Politics, and she arrived at Princeton with tenure.

West asserts that shortly after Perry arrived, she no longer wanted to teach at the Center for African American Studies and later turned on him and Professor Glaude, chairman of the department, calling them “hypocritical leftists.”

“I love the sister,” West said, “but she is a liar, and I hate lying.” West added that Dr. Perry later said on MSNBC’s The Ed Show, that West attacked Obama’s white mother, in the interview with Truthdig.com. “I don’t talk about people’s mothers.  She is reinforcing all of the vicious perceptions of me as a racist, and she knows better than that.”

According to West, Perry’s scathing critique has more to do with the fact that the Center for African American Studies unanimously voted against her when she came up for promotion from associate to full professor, adding that “her work was not scholarly enough.”

“There is not a lot of academic stuff with her, just a lot of twittering,” West said. And he added, “that her book Sister Citizen, released last year, was wild and out of control.” West continued, “She’s become the momentary darling of the liberals, but I pray for her because she’s in over her head.  She’s a fake and a fraud.  I was so surprised how treacherous the sister was.”

Dr. Boyce Watkins, a “public intellectual” out of Syracuse University, and a neo-celebrity political leader, characterizes Rev. Sharpton and Dr. Perry as two major “pit bulls” of the Obama administration that have been busy trying to silence Black criticism directed toward the White House.  As a reward for their work, Boyce Watkins says’ “they were both given shows on MSNBC.”  He added, “Sharpton in particular is too close than a civil rights leader probably should to a United States President.”

Watkins initially injected himself into the political rift among competing contingents of the popular unelected black leadership on the

"DR. Boyce Watkins"

neutral side in support for the Sharpton position.  However, he has apparently migrated to advocate the position held by West and his (West’”) comrade in arms, Tavis Smiley.  Although Watkins claims to have serious political reservations relative to Smiley, because of Smiley’s connections to the Clinton’s, Watkins was not successful in negotiating a position on center stage with political gatekeeper Sharpton.  Hence, Watkins seems comfortable in the political orbit of West, notwithstanding the Tavis Smiley component.

The political fratricide between Rev. Sharpton and Professor West surfaced in early May of 2011 during a panel discussion on the MSNBC’s “The Ed Shultz Show.” An article about the spectacle was posited on BlackPoliticalTaskforce.org, “The ongoing black political saga was animated to greater heights as the 2012 election season opened with a controversy that was ignited on cable TV with the glib tongues and quick political wits of Professor Cornel West and Rev. Al Sharpton, on a recent MSNBC Show hosted by Ed Schultz.  The clash of these popular political Titans is the latest rendition and spectacle of the internal debate that has been percolating beneath the politically correct surface, since the election of President Barack Obama.”

Since the advent of the Barack Obama presidential campaign and his subsequent victory in election 2008, there has been a political crescendo emanating from the grassroots of the black community, pertinent to the political road ahead.  Following the stunning victory that ushered in the first black American as president of the United States, the black community in particular finds itself in a political paradox, going forward.

The victory of President Obama in election 2008, may be compared to the victory of the civil rights movement following the enactment of the civil rights and voting rights legislation of 1964 and 1965, respectively…  In the wake of the successes of the civil rights movement came the marginalization of the civil rights leadership by 1967.  And the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 was the decisive political blow that marked the end of the modern civil rights movement.

Subsequently, “responsible” civil rights leaders became in vogue, as the “responsible” Negro leadership and the black “militant” and “radical” political leadership, became mired in a fratricidal exercise.  At the end of the day, the legitimate political aspirations of both elements of the black American leadership was truncated by the sophisticated nature of the American political process, and covert operations that were targeted against certain elements in the black community such as: COINTELPRO…

"Prof. Cornell West"

During this initial post civil rights period the “responsible” Negro leadership and the “militant” and “radical” leadership resorted to pejorative name calling among other sophomoric interactions.  In the process, over the ensuing years, the number of black elected officials proliferated around the country, which is a legacy of the civil rights movement.   On the other hand, the political gains of the civil rights movement were either hollowed out, marginalized or unenforced.  Currently, black American elected officials are generally isolated from the black community at large and remain politically accountable to the special interests that underwrite their reelection campaigns.

The political dichotomy that characterizes the current crop of black American unelected leaders is comparable to the divisions of old, including the pejorative name calling and public vituperation.  Rev. Sharpton responded to Professor West’s verbal assault against his former colleague, Professor Melissa Harris-Perry, on behalf of Perry, and the public exchange of personal invectives continues to frame popular black politics.  In the wake of this political spectacle and entertainment value of the stereotypical black American comedy, the real-time progress associated with the first African American President of the United States is obscured.  Unfortunately, the popular black political leadership is stuck on politics 101.

Accordingly, a gaggle of black American “celebrity” political leaders, professors, educators, entertainers, and sport figures, has staked out competing sides representing their political positions with respect to presidential election 2012.  Apparently, the political and electoral discourse in the black community is thus engaged and is conducted over popular media and also over the heads of the grassroots black community at large.  Hence between the political “talented tenth,” and the popular media, black politics and the electoral discourse have been hijacked.

Interestingly enough, although there are many divergent political views among the “talented tenth” but there seems to be a general political consensus among them, relative to the “black agenda” going forward.  According to Dr. Boyce Watkins, the founder of YourBlackWorld.com, President Obama, and other seekers of elective office must address the black agenda, in the context of the “PERM.”  When describing the “PERM” agenda, Watkins referenced the hair “perm” that Sharpton is noted for, which “is the best perm I’ve ever seen.”

Watkins describes the PERM agenda as, “Poverty, Educational inequality, Racial inequality, and Mass incarceration.” Referencing Sharpton as a “salesman for the Obama administration”, Watkins speaking with his supporters and other representatives of the “talented tenth,” admonished political operatives (Sharpton) not to expect him to vote for a candidate that does not embrace the “black agenda” in the context of the PERM initiative.

The political dichotomy in the black leadership is generally positioned as Sharpton, et al. (civil rights orthodoxy), and his contingent

"Tavis Smiley"

of “celebrity” political leaders are vociferous supporters of President Obama. Juxtaposed to the Sharpton contingent is Professor Cornel West and other black celebrity political leaders who assert that Obama must be held accountable to an agenda targeted to the poor, in particular. Moreover, the strategy and tactical approach utilized by advocates for the poor have been taken directly from the civil rights chronicles.

Interestingly enough, President Obama did not engage the black civil rights orthodoxy during his campaign for his party’s presidential nomination and his ultimate victory in election 2008.  Therefore, Obama’s first term has not been colored, influenced, or politicized by the tactics of civil rights era political organizing techniques.  Consequently, the President is unlikely to be politically influenced during his reelection campaign by the conventional civil rights agenda, or the protestations from the neo celebrity black leadership, and the prevailing talented tenth.

President Obama demonstrated his unique political wisdom and skill when he tapped Rev. Sharpton to manage the “black political desk.” Sharpton has credentials as a civil rights leader, and is a consummate political gatekeeper able to successfully manage the aggressive political insurgent leadership of emerging black celebrities as well as “designated” political leaders.  Sharpton, some political analysts suggest, represents the last generation of community based civil right leaders and has a decided advantage over his varied political detractors because they are locked into the bygone civil rights organizing and political tactics.  And the current demographic in the black community has no linkage or affinity to the political rhetoric and sensibility that hallmarks the civil rights period.  The civil rights political paradigm is based on outdated racial and minority community juxtapositions.

The most recent political furor directed at Sharpton is that he defended his close relationship with the president by equating it with the relationship that Frederick Douglas had with President Lincoln, A. Phillip Randolph with President Roosevelt, and Dr. King with Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.  Sharpton’s political detractors are publically irate with him for equating his connection with Obama with the aforementioned icons of black American political history.

In particular, Professor West, in conjunction with representatives of the talented tenth, and a contingent of black clergy are chagrined with the idea of Sharpton as the 21^st century MLK Jr.  According to West, Sharpton is not speaking truth to power, which is the principle of King’s relationship with Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.  Likewise, West concluded, “I come out of a Black prophetic tradition that has a commitment to truth and justice.  The condition of truth is to allow suffering to speak.”

Just prior to the death of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he suggested the black political leadership suffered from the “paralysis of analysis.”  MLK’s observation may still hold true, and President Obama may be hip to that…

Gary James is an author, and analyst.  He was a professional organizer in the civil rights movement as a staff organizer in New York City for the National Welfare Rights Organization (NWRO), under the leadership of the late Dr. George Wiley.

"Gov. John deJongh"

The latest revelations of political and financial corruption in the Government of the Virgin Islands may signal an endgame scenario for Governor John P. deJongh’s administration, as well as the prevailing majority in the territory’s legislature.  This stunning and unbelievable proposition concerning the immanent political dislocation of the executive and legislative branches of government is brought about by an investigative report published on February 1, 2012 in the Internet newspaper, www.dailycaller.com .

The comprehensive investigative report alleges that Governor deJongh, Attorney General Vincent Frazer, and several members of the 29^th legislature received more than 20 million dollars in bribes for services to be rendered.  Accordingly, the report indicates that there is currently a sealed federal indictment from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) that is in the process of being executed on all parties concerned.

The two year old DailyCaller website media company is a member of the White House Press Corp, and has gained a reputation of breaking controversial news, and maintaining integrity in its journalism.  Should the report prove to be factual, it will facilitate a coffin for the political demise of Governor deJongh, Attorney General Vincent Frazer, in addition to several members of the 29^th Virgin Islands legislature.

According to the DailyCaller report, “The alleged corruption ultimately reached the rarefied air of the Virgin Islands’ current governor, Democrat John dejongh.  The DC’s source alleges that collectively, dejongh, Attorney General Vincent Frazer, and assorted Virgin Islands legislators accepted more than $20 million in cash bribes to quash local concern about CFC’s financial irregularities.”

“That money” the source said, “was meant to insure against the possibility that concern about federal crimes at CFC would not spring from the Virgin Islands and spread to the nationwide public.  CFC needed dejongh to make sure that the PSC not only approved the sale, but would, God willing, allow enough cash flow to come through to help them support the [$525 million] valuation that they put on this loan.”

Revelations about the sealed indictment that names dejongh, Frazer and several members of the Virgin Islands legislature, comes on the heels of the end of refinery activities by Hess, Et Al, on the island of St. Croix, and the dismissal of more than two thousand plus employees to the unemployment rolls.  The transition of Hess from refinery activities to a storage facility coupled with the termination of 2000 government employee’s, effectively brings the growth of a middle class to an abrupt halt in the Virgin Islands.

The news relative to the end of refinery activities on the “big island” was viewed by many as the straw that broke the camels back, as it occurred in the wake of the legislative and Election Board fiasco concerning the eligibility of Senator Alicia Hansen to remain in the senate, the Inspector General audit report on the Legislature of the Virgin Islands highlighting 6.9 million dollars in unaccounted funds, eight percent cut from government employees, the dismissals and pending dismissal of thousands of government workers.

These developments among others confirmed the extent of political corruption in the legislature and executive branches, which became the impetus of a recall petition against six (6) members of the St. Croix Board of Election.  The recall petition process quickly expanded to include the recalling of five (5) Election Board members from St. Thomas, and a recall petition “movement” seems to be emerging further, as the governor and legislature members are also under consideration for the recall petition process.

Consequently, when the news broke on Wednesday February 1, on the popular radio talk show, “Norma in the morning” as Mr. “Recon” Olive read the story in the DailyCaller website based national newspaper the listening public was already positioned and prepared to react to the governor’s reckless, if not illegal behavior.  Many reflected back to the report delivered on the previous month by the same investigative reporter, “Recon.” It was on the morning of Monday January 9, when listeners to the same radio program heard “Recon” report that he processed seven (7) photos of the governor’s rendezvous with his thirty-five (35) year old paramour in a dark and secluded spot behind the gymnasium on the UVI campus, and remained there for more than an hour.

Together with the generally negative reaction by Virgin Islands residence to Governor deJongh’s “State of the Territory” address offered on January 30, 2012, this revelation concerning the reported federal indictment, there seems to be an increasing groundswell against the governor that may reach critical mass.

Gary James, a resident of St. Croix observed, “If the Governor, Attorney General and several members of the legislature are in fact served with federal indictments, they must immediately resign their respective offices or be removed…  The Federal Government in that instance will need to take the Virgin Islands government into some kind of receivership and facilitate the election of 2012.”

James continued, “I’m not particularly sanguine about the exigency of the feds in executing the indictments in view of the fact that member’s of the US Department of Justice team in this matter were reportedly bribed or compromised as well, casting a dubious shadow over the justice department of Attorney General Eric Holder, going forward.”

“However,” James concluded, “this unfolding scenario is a major criminal conspiracy with far reaching aspects, engaged in a sophisticated and complex sequence of events over time.  Therefore, the scope and organization of this reported criminal enterprise has violated the RICO federal statues which may cause the matter to be dispatched forthwith…”

Be that as it may, the bottom line will be determined by the extent to which the Virgin Islands community is appropriately organized at the grassroots level by the end of the day.  Hopefully, the recall petitioning process, and the community organizing for the purpose electing in November a new senatorial leadership process, will lead to establishing a community based voter education, and committees to elect, going forward.

The entire article published by the Daily Caller is here:, “Bribery, compromised officials leave indicted financial-crime suspects free from prosecution under Holder’s DOJ,” 

While reflecting on the struggles and epic journey that has resulted in the Government of the United States enacting an official Federal holiday in recognition of the work and contribution of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. there remains many ironies, paradoxes and insidious resistance.  From this writer’s local perspective as a recent resident of St. Croix in the Virgin Islands I took note that this territory of the United States was among the first in the nation to endorse and recognize the MLK Jr. Federal holiday.

Interestingly enough on the occasion of the 2012 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on the island of St. Croix there is no mention of the occasion in the Virgin Islands Daily News, a major VI newspaper. This glaring omission most likely did not result by accident or oversight, accordingly the silence, vis-à-vis, omission, speaks bold and vociferously as to the state of “race” relations in the VI going forward. The volume and intensity generated by the MLK Jr. omission, was expressed on some Virgin Islands radio talk shows.  Moreover, there is virtually nothing to report on the official agenda of the predominantly black legislature and executive branches of government.

On the mainland of the United States, activities commemorating the occasion are manifold and include federal, state, and municipal government, in conjunction with a broad range of community based activities in churches, community organizations, schools and other sectors of society.  For those of us that were of age, or who were a part of that tumultuous period in America during the 1960’s, lament the fact that the great and noble Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was being vilified by most of his colleagues in the clergy and civil rights movement during the time that he was assassinated.

The level of vituperation from the community at large without question acquiesced to the odious adverse political energies that conspired to eliminate the “most dangerous man in America.” In the context of celebrating the MLK Jr. Holiday occasion, the most popular feature that is promoted for the general public appreciation is his “I have a dream” speech. In addition, his “we shall overcome” social and political mantra has crystallized into the international political consciousness.

Unfortunately, notwithstanding the fact that we have a black American as the President of the United States, and the historical victories of the civil rights movement during the 1960s and 1970s; black Americans are a political weakling in terms of percentages as compared to other ethnic minority communities. The black American community has enjoyed an historical numerical advantage as compared to other political “minority” communities, such as women, and gays for example but they enjoy proportionally more political leverage than the black community.

The quality of black American political leadership at the clerical and community based levels has seriously declined, since the passing of America’s “prince of peace.” The “responsible” black civil rights leadership in the clergy and some of the few elected black officials in the early 1960s also distanced themselves from MLK Jr. particularly following is controversial public position against the Viet Nam war. Currently black American political leadership, elected and unelected, leaves much more to be desired. According some in the community are suggesting that the “slavery chains are now in the brains.”

As the significance and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. continues to be exploited, misrepresented and parodied, we are among those who pray that the soul of this great human being rests in eternal peace, and that his spirit energy inspires others going forward.

GOP presidential nomination politics has always been virtually beyond black participation except for the occasional cameo way back in the day.  More recently however, no black political cameos are sought, and are categorically not desired by the Republican Party’s field of hopefuls, seeking the party nod.  As a political matter of fact, GOP hopefuls vying for the party’s presidential nomination would run the risk of putting a political albatross around his neck, should he reach-out to the black community at this stage of the political power game.  On the contrary, the candidates during this point in the nomination process must demonstrate indifference to the black American community at best as an initial litmus test…

Since the emergence of the social conservative movement’s domination of the national Republican Party nomination process and agenda, during the Reagan era, the presence of black Americans on the national stage was politically correct symbolism.  Currently, the social conservatives share control of GOP presidential politics and national agenda with the newly fledged Tea Party movement and Evangelical conservatives.  Consequently, the once vibrant contingent of black Republican’s following the Reagan era, were relegated to the sidelines as President H. W. Bush’s “Negro leadership” dropped the political ball, leading up to his stunning re-election defeat in 1992.  Hence, Black Republican participation in presidential nomination politics is essentially none existent.

These are the objective political facts on the ground, notwithstanding Republican Party presidential candidate anomalies such as Mr. Allan Keys and the incomparable Mr. Henry Cain.  The advent of these respective campaigns and candidates of political convenience, may or may not have served their intended objectives well; however, it was abundantly clear to astute political observers and analysts that in neither instance did the candidate have organic political legs at the grassroots or at any other level, prior to their qualifying as a legal candidate.  Because of those circumstances it was virtually a foregone conclusion that their respective campaigns could not be sustained beyond the first lap sorting out process.

Black Republican voters receive the obligatory political mention during the staging of the general election’s popularity contest, following the official launching of the respective conservative and liberal political dichotomies.   At that time the requisite juxtaposed talking points, issue parameters and the political universe of discourse already been advanced by political spinsters and operatives.  Than the political horse race begins entertaining and engaging the American multitudes, as the blow-by-blow and political hyperbole get underway, in earnest.  The politically constricted and tiny elite also known as the Republican Party right wing may have again managed to exercise its hegemony over national party politics and policy agenda, with the largess of some dubious sources.  Nevertheless, the behavior of the conservative controlling wing of the GOP by repeating their short comings in election 2012 that highlighted 2008 political spanking , have proven that they can hi-jack political control, but cannot sustain political growth or achieve a presidential victory.

An array of consequential domestic and foreign policy issues remain front and center, but the problems associated with addressing these issues are compounded by two eight-hundred pound gorillas in the room.  The perception of religious imperialism on one hand, and on the other, the perception of insensitivity on the part of the prevailing party leadership on policy matters that pertain to “race,” in particular may be plaguing the prospect of forward movement.  Moreover, there seems to be a growing element that may potentially constitute a silent majority, or perhaps a critical mass may be prepared to take the ultimate political option available which is to reject the party’s presidential nominee.  While it remains to be seen whether the ultimate nominee will be the candidate with the best chances to win in the general election, or if the Tea Party and Evangelical conservative contingents will impose their hegemonic superiority and prevail at the end of the day with their, anybody but Romney political imperative.

Black Republicans are not the only GOP constituents paying close attention to the political folly and gotcha policies that stymies movement of the peoples business, in favor of political shenanigans that serves no one… There is a diverse and eclectic mix of voters across the demographic spectrum including, workers, business people and professional in varying disciplines prepared to reclaim the radical legacy and brand that is the real-time history of the Grand Old Party. Who will get the nod at the end of this process is any bodies flavor at this point.  But the ultimate winner of the GOP nomination may be the political straw that breaks the camel’s back…

"Gary James"

The following link is a 2008 interview of Gary James a leader of the grassroots activist wing of the Republican Party headquartered in Harlem New York, www.nbgop.net . James is interviewed by Jacob Templin a student of the Columbia University School of Journalism in New York.  The interview was done in October of 2008 a couple weeks prior to the presidential election.  James was asked to respond to comments made by a local GOP district leader in Harlem, that candidate Obama is the reason why the “Harlem Republican Club” has recently closed it doors. http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=59289114

Under the calming facade of leaning palm trees, private beaches, transparent turquoise blue waters surrounding the tropical islands of the Virgin Islands, a lurking political tsunami is now in motion. The United States Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas), in conjunction with the other islands of the Caribbean archipelago, boost the distinction of being among the most popular vacation destinations in the world.

The Virgin Islands paradise became a possession of the United States in 1917, following their purchase from Denmark for the sum of twenty-five million dollars. Previously known as the “Danish West Indies,” the three Caribbean islands nearest to the American mainland became the US Virgin Islands during a formal ceremony called Transfer Day. Transfer Day occurred on March 31, 1917, and is currently celebrated annually on that day, as a local holiday, in the Virgin Island as well as in Denmark.

The Virgin Islands are an unincorporated territory under the auspices of the United States Congress, and is administered by the US Department of Interior. The population is about one hundred and ten thousand, and is approximately eighty-five percent black, while the Government in terms of the executive, legislative and judicial branches is about ninety-five percent black. The chief executive officer of the territory is the governor, who is elected locally. And because of its status as a territory, its residents are citizens of the United States however they are prohibited from voting for the President of the United States.

Over the decades political tidal waves have occurred raising alarms concerning financial mismanagement and political corruption in respective quarters of the executive and legislative branches of government. Although smoking guns of mismanagement and corruption have been identified in the past, political apathy has been the rule among the citizenry, heretofore. However, since the gubernatorial election of 2010, a plethora of patterns of financial malfeasants, political cronyism and blatant corruption, coupled with government employee layoffs and salary cuts may have inspired a critical mass of residents to get engaged politically.

On the heels of the US Federal Government executing a sealed warrant on the Virgin Islands legislature and copying the hard drive of the senate’s central computer system last November, the VI Daily News published the Virgin Islands Legislatures Audit report, December 2, 2011. The much anticipate report concluded that 6.9 million dollars was missing, highlighting the fact that “Senators dipped freely into taxpayers’ money for personal use.” Consequently, the entire fifteen member legislature is under storm clouds as many residents are collaborating to make public the names of the Senators that are implicated by the audit.

Concomitantly, the executive branch, and the governor in particular is experiencing a crescendo of negative political fallout due to a series of events that have resulted in allegations against him for financial mismanagement and political corruption. Moreover, there are various audits, completed and still underway, that will likely confirm actionable legal issues against the Governor. Unfortunately, political apathy continues to be the rule of the Virgin Islands electorate, which has facilitated decades of economic and political exploitation of the community at large, by the ruling elite. However, the escalating scale of the financial and economic dysfunction of government may have crossed the political point of no return…

Accordingly, there is a groundswell of people emerging consisting of local community activist, citizen supporters, and potential senatorial candidates positioning themselves for the election in 2012. Interestingly enough, with the operative slogan saying, “even the blind can see the corruption” brother “Raffie” popularly referred to as “our logo” is positioned as a catalyst for the purpose of pulling together a political cadre of potential candidates and supporters, to change the electoral landscape come November 2012. “Raffie” himself is among the visually impaired but that hasn’t blinded him from the reality of egregious financial mismanagement and contemptible political corruption. “These politicians are a bunch of jokers, skylarking with the people’s money.”

A gentleman named Mr. Ritter asserted his commitment to political change in the 2012 election on a popular radio talk show, and touted the role of the “Vanguard Political Action Committee” (Vanguard PAC), going forward. According to Mr. Ritter, the Vanguard PAC will have a budget of $300,000 to defeat the senatorial incumbents, as well as technical assistance from local and remote sources. He also pointed out that political education is on the agenda of the political action committee that will inspire an ethical in addition to a political revolution.

Despite the broad based community outrage and uproar, some are suggesting that at the end of the day, nothing will change substantially. The elected officials and the executive branch of government will continue to stonewall the issues and sandbag the process. They have their people in place to run downfield political interference on any corrective actions underway. A recent transplant from the states, who currently resides on the “big island” and whose Cyberspace handle is “CadreUSA,” said “nothing positive has happened in the past because the VI people did not take the appropriate affirmative political action, in terms of the first person singular. They must be organized in formal and disciplined structures, and engage politically sustainable formulations and instruments that can require as well as exact political accountability.”

CadreUSA has joined the writing team known as St. Croix blogger, and they have launched www.stxblogger.com .The St. Croix blogger team is headed up by author and political analyst Gary James, who relocated from New York City and resides on St. Croix. James is researching his family ancestry on the island, as his father and grandparent were born on St. Croix. James said, “There are many residents in the states that are like yours truly and have family roots in the Virgin Islands, these people are concerned about their families now that the level of economic mismanagement and political corruption has reached the spectacle of national news in the United States.”

“We are receiving contacts from the states offering material support and technical assistance in the planning and execution of a comprehensive electoral plan and strategy for November 2012, and to achieve for long range objectives as well. Apart from the apparent need for structural change in the electoral process, going forward, positive steps must be initiated toward the development of a Virgin Islands Constitution, and an agricultural imperative to grow a national economy.

“However, in order to achieve the long range objectives as stated, the emerging political grouping must consider establishing a Virgin Islands Transitional Government apparatus, in the context of a “shadow” government, in addition to supporting a slate of senatorial candidates. But as a practical political matter, there will be no follow up prosecutions of the wrong doers unless there is a citizens transitional government apparatus in place that can manage the arduous follow through legal scenarios.”