The metal gates on the St. John ferry dock say to some visitors, "Welcome to Alcatraz ," according to Kristin Cox, an island resident.
During a public meeting last week Cox told Donna Christensen, the Territory’s Delegate to Congress, the set up is "offensive to guests."
Cox said that the gates are useless as terrorism or even immigration deterrents. The Delegate indicated she agreed and told about a dozen people attending the meeting at the Legislature Building in Cruz Bay she’s been urging the government to establish a Border Patrol office in the Islands, the St. John Source reported. Christensen said she will raise the issue again in April when a delegation from the House Homeland Security Committee visits the Territory.
The Inquiring Iguana also attended the meeting and heard Christensen say that she and Gov. John de Jongh will be in Washington this week and hope to be meeting with federal officials on subjects such as real estate property taxing and economic development.