, 1955-02-16

thing for their particular area, we are going to hurt ourselves
on 4 territory-wide basis. ! hereby pledge mysen = sr
that voted for me. here in Saint Thomas anou
think three in Saint john that / shall do everything ~ my
power to be impartial and to think only IN terms y ss %l
fare Of all Of our Virgin Islands. And, | hereby make 2 Pisa'
1T this our opening session today. to all OF my Drotnets z
oscesnhlhds that we try to think and act in like manner, ana
only in terms Of the islands. Because we had 9 very 81
Gent system until now. This unification brings eInclency
and we can use what revenues we have TO the musual DeIe-
fit Of all the people if we think and act as 2 unlleo peops,
a aso to speak-state, territory Of the Virgin ISLANDS.
n,adaa ~ srnnort 70 our Chairman, vice-Chairman,
and. All the other members in realizing in the years aneao
what I hope will be real progress for our Virgin lslanos'
Thank you. ~(APPLAUSEl
Mr.. GOMEZ: Mr.. President, Fellow Senators we nave
embarked today upon a new era, one upon Wn.ch az = -
trust will cause these Virgin Islands to go aneao II 2 piOsles
sive manner. II was indeed heartening and e great plessu1s
to hear the Governor say tonight that ne Is gong = g
his whole-hearted cooperation-that is something, as lar q
I know that we have been pledging all along, and we ln1ena
to make it more stronger than ever.
The Governors words tonight were very encourag,ng.
There is one point, as you all know as Fellow virgin lslanueis
which touch us very dearly and that Is when we see oW
native sons being passed-by when there are posanons q sOms
class When / say SO, I mean the higher class Of Posluons'
those in the Big Pay Racket-Bracket. We find that VLaugn-
ferl our natives are being side-stepped. NY aear t4enuS
that's one Of the things that give US very much concern aAu
/ sincerely hope that it is the Governors ssn1on =
ate in that line also
And 10 nv other Senators, / wolld like to say this. Re
pardless Of party differences-we must put party ASIDE now
Jet us forget about party and let US work all together, hand mana
in hand for the betterment of the Virgin Islands AFFLAO0E1
MR.. REESE: Mr.. Chairman, I am going to be very snort
This IS my second term in office-my first IN the new oenae
and / myself have made many pledges on tne rOs.1uns'
the radio and to certain organizations in this community
when i mention the word greater autonomy, for which
we have all decided we shall struggle for, for amendments
to our new Organic Act, to me, Mr.. Chairman, It Is not only
i word; to me it is doing the will Of the people tne cnlioren'
the workers and citizens, Of these Virgin Islands.
Today / realize that we are faced with g bigger loD tnan
ne have over faced before. We heretofore confined ourselves
to the district Of an island, whether it be the country OF town
district Of that island, but today we must conflne ourselves
to the three islands, as an entity that needs 9 lot Of develop
ments.
Ny pledge to the People, Mr.. Chairman, IS to seek great
er autonomy, for better homes, better jobs with reasonable
pay and my foremost pledge is that I would like TO see ana
vote for natives, that / know to my conscience are quahfed,