Yesterday afternoon, Governor de Jongh greeted and later distributed books to hundreds of Virgin Islands school-aged children at a book blowout event at Tutu Park Mall. The event was part of the governor’s Summer Reading Challenge in which students are challenged to read five or more books over the summer vacation.

Listen to the Governor's Remarks .mp3 (1MB)

The five-hour event was staged at Tutu Park Mall’s center court and attracted students and their parents, many of whom had already read five books and tracked their progress en route to an end of summer celebration with the governor. Other participants in the book blowout included: First Bank, Tutu Park Mall, UVI CELL and WTJX TV Channel 12. 

“I thank the students and their parents who turned out today to collect additional books to continue the reading challenge in the waning days of the summer vacation. This challenge is another example of our community coming together to ensure that our children have the tools necessary to be the best that they can be,” said the governor in brief remarks at the event Saturday. De Jongh noted that the event was held this weekend as a means of invigorating the young people towards the start of the new school year, just a few weeks away.

A similar book blowout event is planned for Saturday, August 21 at Sunny Isle Shopping Center on St. Croix.