Breaking news-Corruption in the USVI
US Virgin Island Legal Corruption- US territory the only jurisdiction to deny constitutional rights?
We are reporting on newly released information regarding systemic corruption in the USVI.
Nearly 1000 backlogged criminal cases stretching back to the 1990s.
Thousands of backlogged cases in civil courts dating back to the 1990's
Office of disciplinary counsel cases going back to 1996 with nearly 200 back logged cases and only a part time investigator to handle the case load. There are only 3 appointed judges and
Epstein's USVI victims are lumped into the civil courts. These back logs means that these cases sit in limbo as CASES STRETCH DECADES!!
Corruption's Shadow: The Dark Underbelly of the U.S. Virgin Islands
Investigative Report
Introduction
Behind the sun-kissed beaches and azure waters of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) lies a web of deceit, corruption, and institutional breakdown. The paradise many envision is but a facade, masking a deeper, more malignant reality that has festered, unchecked and unchallenged.
1. Strategic Location: A Magnet for the Underworld
The USVI's prime maritime position is more than just a boon for trade. It's a veritable magnet for drug traffickers, especially routes originating from Colombia. But these illicit pathways don't merely ferry drugs; they smuggle in corruption, destabilizing the socio-political foundation of the islands.
2. A Judiciary in Chains: The Stranglehold of Backlogs
Justice in the USVI isn't blind; it's paralyzed:
Civil Cases: Thousands gather dust, many haunting from the 1990s. A resolution isn't just delayed; it's an ever-receding mirage for the afflicted.
Criminal Cases: Nearly 1,000 backlogged cases form a grim testament to a justice system in shackles. With an average waiting time of a staggering 12 years, many perpetrators roam free, their crimes untouched by the hand of law.
Office of Disciplinary Counsel: This entity, meant to be the watchdog for legal ethics, is overwhelmed by its own backlog, some lurking since the early 1990s. With a solitary part-time investigator, justice is not merely delayed; it's often denied.
The absence of defined laws concerning case progression timelines adds to this morass, effectively trampling the right to a speedy trial.
3. Appointments in the Shadows: The Breeding Ground of a Tainted Judiciary
In the echoing halls of the USVI judiciary, judges are appointed, not elected. This process, shrouded in shadows, lends itself to manipulation. When appointments might be the result of backdoor deals, political favors, or the influence of drug money, the scales of justice are not just tipped but toppled.
4. Electorate's Mirage: True Representation or Puppetry?
With 15 representatives elected to voice the USVI populace, one would expect accountability. Yet, the tendrils of corruption creep even here. The lure of illicit funds and the specter of electoral manipulations lead one to question: Are these representatives or mere puppets in a grander play of deceit?
5. Distorted Constitutional Rights: A Convenient Blind Spot
The USVI’s unique status allows for selective interpretations of constitutional rights. Elements, like the right to a jury trial in civil cases and nuances of the Fifth Amendment, can be twisted and turned, creating loopholes that serve the corrupt. It's a playground for legal anomalies, where rights are more guidelines than rules.
Conclusion: Paradise Lost
The U.S. Virgin Islands, once a beacon of tropical serenity, is now ensnared in corruption's vice-like grip. Its judicial paralysis, murky appointments, and electoral enigmas are not mere coincidences; they are symptoms of a deeper rot. To cleanse the USVI of this malignancy, it will take more than just local initiatives. It demands a spotlight on these shadowed corners, a commitment to the rule of law, and a relentless pursuit of the truth. The paradise can be reclaimed, but the journey is fraught with challenges. Only time will tell if the islands can emerge from the darkness that engulfs them.
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