In her biweekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.
The conversation about health insurance in the Virgin Islands has taken a sharp and sobering turn. In a recent Committee of the Whole hearing on the Governor’s proposal to move government employees into a self-insurance model, the proposal itself was rejected for clear and practical reasons. Yet what came out of that hearing was far more disturbing. We learned that only eight percent of active government employees are considered healthy.
Eight percent. This is not just a statistic to be tucked away in a report. It is a mirror held up to the health of our community. It is a warning flare in the night, telling us that something is terribly wrong. Insurance premiums are rising, driven by large payouts and high claims, but the real story is not just about the numbers. It is about what is happening to our bodies, our homes, our workplaces, and our environment.
We have to ask ourselves why so many Virgin Islanders are unwell. We cannot fall into the trap of blaming this crisis entirely on individual choices. Yes, as a community we must confront poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles, but that does not explain why such a staggering majority of our workforce is unhealthy. The truth is harder to face, but it is right in front of us.
Our environment is compromised, and it is compromising us. Many modular classrooms are filled with mold. Government buildings where people work every day are plagued by mold as well. Charlotte Amalie High School has dealt with asbestos contamination. Raw sewage flows openly through our streets. On St. Croix, a refinery sits on top of soil already poisoned by decades of industrial activity, while lead-contaminated water ran through the pipes in some communities. The Tutu area remains a designated Superfund site, a reminder of contamination that has never been fully remediated. The dumps across the territory burn constantly, sending plumes of smoke and toxins into the air, yet no one can say with certainty what exactly we are breathing.
Layered on top of these environmental hazards is a cost of living that leaves many working families in a constant state of financial stress. WAPA’s unreliability adds another daily strain. And for those already struggling with their health, these conditions are not just inconvenient, they are life-shortening. Chronic respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers, and mental health struggles all thrive in an environment where stress is constant, the air and water are questionable, and access to preventive care is limited.
We cannot afford to ignore these connections. If we are serious about controlling insurance costs, we must be equally serious about addressing the root causes of illness. That begins with knowledge. We need a comprehensive public health study that examines every factor contributing to the sickness in our community. This study must look at environmental toxins, workplace hazards, access to healthy food, mental health stressors, and the cumulative effects of living under these conditions year after year.
The University of the Virgin Islands could lead this effort, partnering with national public health institutions. We can seek grant funding so that the cost does not burden the local government. But what matters most is that the research be independent, transparent, and driven by the goal of producing real, actionable recommendations to improve health outcomes for every Virgin Islander.
Without such an effort, we will remain locked in a cycle where the cost of healthcare rises, insurance premiums soar, and families face financial ruin when illness strikes. The toll is not just measured in dollars, but in years of life lost, in the quality of our children’s futures, and in the steady erosion of a community’s well-being.
The health of the Virgin Islands is a reflection of the health of its environment, its infrastructure, and its people. Right now, that reflection should trouble every single one of us. We can choose to look away and continue paying higher premiums while more of our neighbors get sick. Or we can decide, once and for all, to face the truth, demand answers, and fight for the right to live in a place where health is possible.
The question before us is simple: do we have the courage to find out why our people are so sick, and the will to do something about it? The time to answer that question is now.
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.
