United States Virgin Islands Constitutional Convention election, 2007

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politics and government of
the United States Virgin Islands

The 2007 United States Virgin Islands Constitutional Convention election was an election to the Fifth Constitutional Convention of the U.S. Virgin Islands in the United States Virgin Islands on 12 June 2007. The convention was the fifth attempt to give the United States territory its own constitution; previous constitutional conventions had been elected (without a constitution being adopted) in 1964, 1971, 1977 and 1980. .

There were thirty delegates elected — fifteen from Saint Croix, twelve from Saint Thomas, and three from Saint John. Two delegates from each of those districts were elected by voters on a territory-wide basis.

Election Results

NameSeatNumber of votes
Adelbert Bryan St. Croix at-large 4,841
Gerard Luz James II St. Croix at-large 3,555
Arturo Watlington Jr. St. Thomas-St. John at-large 4,065
Craig Barshinger St. Thomas-St. John at-large 2,732
Dr. Eugene Petersen St. Croix 2,856
Michael Thurland St. Croix 2,323
Claire Roker St. Croix 2,094
Rena Brodhurst St. Croix 1,894
Doug Capdeville St. Croix 1,822
Arnold Golden St. Croix 1,794
Richard Schrader Jr. St. Croix 1,775
Gerard Emanuel St. Croix 1,588
Mary Moorhead St. Croix 1,548
Kendall Petersen St. Croix 1,504
Violet Anne Golden St. Croix 1,498
Robert Schuster St. Croix 1,479
Douglas Brady St. Croix 1,457
Myron Jackson St. Thomas 2,546
Charles Turnbull St. Thomas 2,482
Alecia Wells St. John 2,186
Lawrence Sewer St. Thomas 2,096
Lois Hassell-Habtes St. Thomas 2,082
Clement Magras St. Thomas 2,015
Elsie Thomas-Trotman St. John 1,890
Stedmann Hodge Jr. St. Thomas 1,747
Thomas Moore St. Thomas 1,695
Francis Jackson St. Thomas 1,680
Mario Francis St. Thomas 1,500
Wilma Marsh Monsanto St. Thomas 1,499
Lisa Williams St. Thomas 1,378

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Process

The delegates had until May 31, 2009 to deliberate on a constitution proposal. The convention did not start work in July 2007, as planned, due to delays over legal challenges to the poll; it finally convened on 29 October 2007.

It should then (after review periods by the Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, the President of the United States and the United States Congress) be put to a referendum, possibly in November 2010.

If the people of the Virgin Islands do not ratify a constitution, they will continue to be governed by the Revised Organic Act of 1954, which was passed by the United States Congress. It is a federal law, meaning the people of the Virgin Islands cannot amend it themselves.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Native-Rights Advocate Bryan Biggest Winner in Constitutional Convention Delegate Vote". The V.I. Source, June 12, 2007. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
  2. ↑ "The purpose of a constitution is to put power in the hands of the territory". The Virgin Islands Daily News, May 8, 2007. Retrieved 2010-09-29.

External links