Editor’s Note: This is an open letter to the members of the 35th Legislature.
Dear Senators of the 35th Legislature,
We, representatives of Citizens Harmony And Reform Movement (CHARM), request that a day be designated to recognize the rights of our children and to pay tribute to them.
The children of the Virgin Islands of the United States are entitled to a quality education that teaches them our rich history, embraces our diverse culture and promotes their heritage.
Further, we would like for a public PreK-12 education complex to be established on the island of St. John. This complex should include a digital library and museum of V.I. history, culture and heritage that all our children can access electronically.
We feel that a V.I. Children’s Day would be beneficial to the entire territory because it would foster V.I. pride and cement our identity as Virgin Islanders.
We, the undersigned, call on the 35th Legislature to pass legislation creating a V.I. Children’s Day to be commemorated on the day that a decision is made to establish the education complex on St. John.
— Verdel L. Petersen and Abdul Ali, CHARM representatives