Protesters press for government action on Vessup land buy

ST. THOMAS - Juliana Van Dongen stood outside Government House on Tuesday afternoon holding aloft a sign that read: "Governor Turnbull don't be a traitor to your people."

Van Dongen and about 25 other picket-toting St. Thomas residents marched from the V.I. Legislature to Government House on Tuesday to protest the V.I. government's inaction in buying 17 acres of East End land near the beach at Vessup Bay from a Miami developer.

In July 2004, senators overrode Gov. Charles Turnbull's veto of legislation appropriating funds to buy the land through eminent domain, but the executive branch has yet to act on the law.

"As the highest elected official of our territory, you can no longer ignore the will of the people, for in doing so you are destroying the democratic process by which our laws are written and enforced," said Andrea King, president of the Red Hook Community Alliance, at Tuesday's protest. "We have asked you over and over again to address us on this issue for well over a year, yet you ignore us."

As protesters chanted, motorists driving along Government Hill honked their horns. This continued for about 20 minutes, but Turnbull failed to show.

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