USVI: AIDS test before marriage

Pastor Arnoldo Gonzalez of St. Croix, a member of the international planning committee for a regional HIV/AIDS conference held here this weekend, is calling on the V.I. government to enact a law mandating HIV testing before marriage.

"It's a way that the government has to prevent the furthering of different kinds of diseases," Gonzalez said.

With an HIV/AIDS rate that's second only to Africa's, this sounds a very necessary step. High time that Caribbean peoples learn that a deputy is not essential.