THE GOBLIN HAS GONE: RECLAIM THE PEOPLE’S PIER
By JOHN McCARTHY / St. Croix Sun Staff Writer
FREDERIKSTED — For years, the Frederiksted Pier hasn’t been a public landmark; it’s been a occupied territory. Under the iron-fisted "garrison" mentality of the St. Thomas-based VIPA regime, our gateway to the sea was transformed into a private fortress. We were told it was for "homeland security." We were told it was "liability." But the truth was simpler: it was about control.
The "St. Thomas Goblin" treated our ancestral right to the water like a trespasser’s crime. They put up gates to block the simple, soulful joy of a Crucian child jumping into the blue. They turned a community hub into a cold, restricted transit zone, citing "regulations" while they looked down their noses at the West Side.
The Crumbling Foundation of Authority
There is a profound irony in the timing of this liberation. While Carlton Dowe spent his tenure lecturing St. Croix on "rules" and "safety," his own personal and professional "structural integrity" has been exposed by a seven-count federal indictment. It is the height of hypocrisy to take lessons in "proper conduct" from an official facing charges of bank fraud and identity theft.
If the foundation of his leadership was built on sand, why are his arbitrary fences still standing? If the gatekeeper is facing the music in federal court, it’s time to take the keys back.
A Legacy of Convictions
The rumors swirling through the waterfront suggest that Dowe’s final wish was to ensure Ann Abramson’s name remains permanently etched on that pier. Let’s look at the math: an indicted official fighting to preserve the name of a convicted felon, all while criminalizing the recreation of law-abiding Crucian citizens.
The priorities aren't just upside down—they’re an insult. We are done honoring the "wishes" of a fading guard that puts the names of the "connected" over the rights of the people.
The Manifesto: Open the Gates
The St. Croix Sun hereby declares a new era for the West Side. With the "Wicked Warlock" out of the building, we demand an immediate return to "First Principles."
Fish Off It: Restore the lineage of the "Old Pier." Let the lines drop and the coolers fill.
Jump Off It: Let our youth reclaim their birthright. The pier is a playground, not a prison.
Walk It: From the shoreline to the deep water, the pier must become a public park once more.
The era of feeling like a stranger in your own backyard is over. The Sun is rising, the gates are rusting, and the pier belongs to us.
THE CRUCIAN BILL OF RIGHTS
FOR THE FREDERIKSTED PIER
A MANIFESTO FOR THE RESTORATION OF PUBLIC LIBERTY
I. The Right of Unfettered Access The Pier is a sidewalk over the sea. Every Crucian shall have the right to walk its length without being treated like a trespasser by VIPA security.
II. The Right of Recreational Immersion The waters of Frederiksted belong to the people. "Jumping off the pier" shall be decriminalized and celebrated as a symbol of island vitality.
III. The Right of Sustenance (The Fisherman’s Clause) The pier must feed the community. Line fishing shall be restored as a protected activity, honoring the spirit of the "Old Pier."
IV. The Right of Transparent Naming Names on public monuments must reflect our values. The name on the gate must be a source of pride, not a reminder of federal convictions.
V. The Right of "Feeling Free" Above all, the Pier shall remain a sanctuary where the spirit of "Living and Loving" St. Croix is never interrupted by arbitrary fences or St. Thomas-based bureaucracy.
