Notes on Recent Immigrants to the United States Virgin Islands.

The aim of the article is to delineate the various recent migrants to the United States Virgin Islands, and to point out some of the problems that these groups have encountered after migration. The Virgin Islands of the United States form the northwest tip of the Lesser Antilles. There are three major inhabited islands, namely, St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John. Population of the islands has been estimated at 56,500. With the advent of the tourist trade, service occupations increased in scope and number on the Islands. The native black Virgin Islander, already finding employment with the government, and perceiving service occupations negatively, did not usually participate in such occupations. Thus, an employment gap was created. The alien fills this gap, and performs a service essential to an economy based upon tourism. The majority of aliens, particularly the "Bonded " and Illegal categories, work in unskilled or semi-skilled occupations. Males can be found employed as construction workers, waiters, etc. Women are employed primarily as maids, either in private households or in the hotels servicing the tourist industry, although a few work as saleswomen. In general, the Continental population in the Virgin Islands can be considered quite fluid. Although some in fact manage to adjust to island living, others find the adjustment too difficult.