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On June 23, 2008, Governor
John P. de Jongh, Jr. announced a landmark 30-year public-private initiative with
Diageo, the world’s leading spirits, wine and beer company for the construction and operation of a high capacity distillery on the island of St. Croix.
The new facility will produce bulk rum beginning in 2011. Beginning in 2012, the distillery will supply all bulk rum used to make Captain Morgan branded products for the United States. Captain Morgan is a global leader among premium spirits and is the second leading rum consumed in the world, with steady growth expected in the coming years. It is estimated that the environmentally sound, state of the art distillery will have capacity to distill up to 20 million proof gallons per year. This 30-year commitment will provide a major economic stimulus for the entire Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The 27th Legislature
approved the agreement on July 9, 2008 and Governor de Jongh
signed it into law on July 24, 2008. On May 6,
2009, Governor de Jongh, Lt. Governor Francis and members
of the Legislature joined officials from Diageo to
officially break ground on the project.
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