Volunteerism is defined as serving one’s community without compensation. Unfortunately, because of greed, many volunteer organisations worldwide have been robbed by their executive officers.
In today’s world, there are numerous organisations that people volunteer for, including military services. Everyone who volunteers has their own personal reason for volunteering. Here in the Virgin Islands, there are lots of volunteers, and many of them benefit from the experience. One of the things I have noticed about volunteers in the VI is that when there is work to be done it is the same people over and over, but when “show times” come, you see all kinds of bodies in uniforms.
Politicians
The issue that I want you to help me understand is why so many people volunteer for their own personal benefit. I am referring to politicians. In my humble opinion, I look at people running for elected office as people volunteering to serve their country. However, that does not seem to be the case: Successful political aspirants soon realise that they have the power to raise their own salaries, take bribes and do so many other immoral and illegal things that can benefit themselves and their cronies and get rich that they forget that they had volunteered to serve their community and decide to make politics a lifetime career. As I see it, you should not volunteer your time if you cannot afford a cut in salary or do not have the time to serve with an organisation.
Another election
We are now preparing for another election and will be faced with some of the old faces and many new young, bright and intelligent (some hopefully with common sense) men and women volunteering their services. Do not allow anyone to use their lack of intelligence to tell you some of the new candidates are young and that they are therefore inexperienced. I know of no one who was elected for the first time who had experience as an elected representative. However, if you know of anyone, please let me know, as I am never too old to learn.
I have also observed that the more educated people are elected to office the more is done to disenfranchise Virgin Islanders and other belongers, while the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. They like to call some of what they do development. The question is this: development for whom and at what price?
‘People of honour’
I can remember when there were people of honour who served this territory, and they deserved the title “honourable.” Today, “dishonourable” is much more fitting. Leopold Smith was a nominated member of the Executive Council during the pre- legislative period. He was also a nominated member and deputy speaker from 1975 to 1979 and an elected member of the Legislative Council from 1967 to 1971. His belief in upholding proper standards of excellence prompted him to scrutinise all bills to ensure accuracy and appropriateness of content. He adamantly opposed large pensions and salaries for legislators, lest politicians be lured to positions because of lucrative salaries rather than doing the people’s business.