In her biweekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.
Accountability is the cornerstone of public service. Without it, the people lose trust, and democracy itself begins to erode. The recent controversy involving Senator Bolques is not only about one individual’s conduct, but also about how the Legislature chose to handle the matter. The way this case was managed raises serious questions about the Senate’s willingness to uphold the standards it was elected to defend.
Much has been made of the sixty day rule, the statutory limit for reporting a complaint. That rule was treated as an immovable wall, as though nothing could be done once the window had closed. Yet the truth is that nothing prevented the Legislature from convening in session and voting to waive that rule, just as it has waived countless rules in the past when it was deemed necessary. Procedure should never become a shield against accountability. When the Senate chooses to apply rules rigidly in one instance but freely set them aside in another, it sends a troubling signal about priorities.
Equally concerning was the expectation that senators would vote on a recommendation without being given the full details of the charges. To their credit, several members raised this very point. It is unreasonable to expect legislators to cast a vote on so serious a matter without having the facts laid before them. By withholding the charging documents, the Legislature did not just weaken the process. It failed the public and, most importantly, it let the victims down.
One of the charges fell outside of the sixty day window, and yet the Legislature still did not have the decency to disclose what that charge was. Instead, they reduced the matter to a vague violation of the oath of office. That lack of transparency deprived the people of their right to know the seriousness of the conduct and shielded the senator from the full weight of public accountability.
The conduct of the senator at the center of this controversy further complicated matters. On the day of his reckoning, he arrived in a bright red suit, describing it as his “fire suit” to a local reporter. To many, that appeared less like humility in the face of scrutiny and more like a performance of defiance. Leadership is not about mocking accountability or celebrating technical escapes. Leadership is about facing the public squarely, acknowledging mistakes, and showing a willingness to rebuild trust. That is what the people of this territory deserve.
This situation also raises a broader policy question: why should there be a strict 60-day reporting window on allegations of harassment or misconduct? Victims often need months, even years, to summon the courage to come forward. A timeline that cuts them off so abruptly does not serve justice. When former Senator Steven Payne was investigated, the body proceeded with full transparency through a charging document. That openness allowed senators and the public alike to consider the matter with clarity. This time, secrecy and technical limitations prevented a full airing of the facts.
The people of St. John and the wider Virgin Islands deserve better. They deserve an at-large senator who reflects humility and accountability, and they deserve a Legislature that upholds transparency and consistency. The 60-day rule must be revisited so that victims are not silenced by arbitrary deadlines. More importantly, the Legislature itself must show that it can hold its members to the same high standards it asks of others.
True leadership is not about technical victories. It is about doing what is right, even when it is painful or inconvenient. It is about being willing to admit mistakes, to apologize sincerely, and to take steps to restore public trust. Anything less diminishes the office and betrays the people who placed their faith in it.
Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.
