A message from
Governor John P. deJongh, Jr.

BVI/USVI Friendship Day, October 20, 2007, will be both a celebration of the deep friendship between our two territories and an opportunity to build on that friendship to extend its benefits for all our people. 

The US Virgin Islands has long been a destination of opportunity drawing people from around the world to our shores. Indeed, It is one of the key reasons for the close family ties between the U.S and British Virgin Islands.

The BVI is increasingly becoming an economic powerhouse. With the development of its International Business Companies (IBC) and the Tourism sector, it now boasts one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean and a GDP of $853.4 million (2004, est.) according to the CIA World Facts Book.

When you add that to the US Virgin Islands’ GDP of $1.577 billion (also 2004, est.) you’re talking about a combined GDP of almost $2.5 billion!

As citizens of countries with huge economies it makes pure sense to ask what can we do to benefit more directly from our good fortune? Surely, one good idea is to pool our efforts to help our citizens find, or create, legitimate means of earning better incomes to improve the quality of life in our homes and communities.

To do this, we must move beyond being good workers and managers to become good owners, entrepreneurs and investors.

This awareness energizes BVI/USVI Friendship Day, 2007 and gives it this appropriate theme: BVI/USVI Friendship: Progress for all through collaboration.

The site for BVI/USVI Friendship Day, 2007 is the new Crown Bay Center, which is ideally suited for the planned activities. At the center of events is an exhibition of local businesses and the many goods and services produced here. The aim is to promote awareness of business ownership, entrepreneurship and business opportunities. 

Along with the exhibition there will be cultural performances, local cuisine galore, a cook-off between BVI and USVI chefs, and a range of other fun activities.

I look forward to welcoming Premier Ralph O’Neal and his wife Edris, the official BVI delegation and all of our family and friends from the BVI. And I urge the entire community to get involved as exhibitor, performer, volunteer or just as an attendee.

After all, there is no better way to cement our friendship than by spending quality time together and working purposefully to ensure that all of our citizens can take fullest advantage of the economic opportunities our territories offer.

Let’s make BVI/USVI Friendship Day, 2007 the beginning of an exhilarating new chapter in our long history of being neighbors and friends.

Governor John P. deJongh, Jr.