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Inaugural Address of Governor John Percy deJongh, Jr.

Mr. Chief Justice, Lt. Governor Francis, Delegate Christiansen, Governor Turnbull, Governor Schneider, Reverend Clergy, members of the Legislature, Senators-elect, distinguished platform guests, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you for joining me at the beginning of this New Year, this new government and this new era for the United States Virgin Islands.

I am humbled and honored to be here today – this first day of the New Year. I am honored to be in this place that represents so much of our past, our present and, our future. A place where six other individuals have preceded me to take the oath of office as our elected governor. I am now the beneficiary of their legacies and traditions. It is an honor and a challenge that I accept as I assume my duties on behalf of all who live on our four islands: St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island. Four islands, with a rich history, a diverse and culturally rich present, and a future of immense opportunity. 

My only regret as I stand here today is that my parents are not able to witness this event, and absorb the feelings of this moment with my sister and her husband, my brothers and their wives, their children, my wife, my children, and so many of their friends who have offered me words of encouragement. The introduction by Alda Monsanto, my mother’s best friend, my brother’s god mother, fills me with memories I treasure and will forever hold on to. Thank you, Alda. You bring me back to my earliest memories of my childhood, to a much simpler time in the Virgin Islands, to a time when both my mother and my father were alive. If they were here I would thank them both for all they did for me, for all the encouragement they gave to me. 

I would thank them for instilling in me the value of education, and for sharing their deeply ingrained belief that one could not live one's life without caring for and helping those around you, not just family, not just friends, but those around you who, for whatever reason, are less fortunate and need a helping hand. And for ingraining in me that we are all in fact connected, and that what happens to one person or one island impacts all of us – on all of our islands.

My father always believed that the potential of these islands had yet to be realized, and was unlimited. He was born here, raised here and till his last days remained committed to these Virgin Islands. My mother, a social worker, believed just as strongly that the potential of our people can best be achieved one person at a time, one child at a time, and that sacrificing was what one did for others to build the future.

These are the principles I try to live each day with my family as well. With my wonderful wife and partner Cecile who has been by my side for 22 years. She provides the support for our family – she is our rock, our foundation. 

My son JP, whom I have watched grow from a boy to a man. As he leaves for college this year to embark on a journey of his own, I look forward to watching him choose his own path and chart his own course towards success.

My daughter Rene, whom I watch each day with amazement as she matures from a girl to a young lady – and for whom I am constantly reminded why we need a Virgin Islands community that is safe and always moving forward. 

And my youngest, Julian, who, through his wit and realism, succeeds each and every day in keeping me firmly grounded, and reminds me that I should not stray too far in believing I am “all of that” because at the end of every day I am just his father who still cannot master basic video games. 

My siblings are here – Judy, Stanley and Sydney, thank you for sharing this day with me. Thank you to so many of my friends who are here. To the distinguished guests from throughout our Caribbean region and the representatives of our national government, thank you all for being here. I welcome the opportunity to work with you in the coming years.

The good lord has been generous to me in a way that I little understand. I thank god for my family. I thank him for the opportunity to serve him, and my community; I thank the almighty almost as often as I turn to him for guidance because I know that it is in the service of a higher cause that we all draw our wisdom and our strength.

I stand before you today and pledge my commitment to bring a time of change to the Virgin Islands. The deep hope for change that lies within the hearts – and minds – of so many Virgin Islanders has shown itself to be evident and clear. It is this hope that has brought me here to lead and to serve. I have faith and trust in the possibilities and the future of these islands.

But this job is not about me. It is about all who live in these islands – it is about you! You are my employer – the source of the power and the authority for all that government is, and all that government does. Together we must accept this responsibility – our personal responsibility – and refuse to accept any outcome other than complete success. We must accept that we are one territory, one people – more connected than disconnected – what happens, or does not happen, on one island effects all others. 

I can take steps – strong steps – to change our government. And I will. But there must be broad agreement on what we want the Virgin Islands to be – and to become. There is a clear consensus that we must have a competent and transparent government; one that serves the interests of all, not just a chosen few. We agree that we must work together, and include everyone: regardless of color, class, religion or background. We must build a future for all. We must build a future we can all take ownership of and pride in.

Let us first recognize the good fortune, the blessing, of our present circumstances. We are Virgin Islanders living on American soil, with many of the rights, benefits and privileges of American citizenship. This is no small blessing, as so often is shown by the violence, the tyranny and the despair, that troubles so much of the rest of our world. This is a reality we appreciate through our young people who have joined the armed forces and National Guard and who remind us that, we, as Virgin Islanders, have always shown our willingness to do our part for a country that has done so much for us. That is why we are truly blessed, free to build a Virgin Islands that takes its place as a true leader in the Caribbean. 

Blessed as we are, we know we can and must do better. We can no longer accept that a third of our children live in poverty, we can no longer accept that many of our students read below grade level, we can no longer accept that so many of our young people choose to leave us and if they return they cannot find a home, and we can no longer ignore that there are senior citizens sitting in darkened rooms unable to pay their power bills. Since we can no longer accept and ignore these facts - we know we must do better.

To do better, we must change what we have been doing, and how we have been doing it. My commitment to build a future of opportunity for all in the Virgin Islands is not just rhetoric; it is the fuel for what I seek to accomplish, for the changes I seek to make. We must start putting first things first – basics before frills.

We must live in communities that respect and protect women and children. Safe from crime, safe from violence, free from the scourge of drugs. Communities that provide a safe haven to our many visitors. All our children, all our elders, all of us, must both be safe and feel safe. When we call 911, help must be there – and on the way.

With safe communities we can raise our children, grow our economy and build businesses and wealth for ourselves both through employment – and ownership. But this will not happen if our children do not learn what they need to learn in school. And that means they and their teachers must be measured and rewarded for success, not passed on for convenience. I did not run for the job of governor to permit us to continue to lose our future through shortsighted policies that reward expediency without regard for the future.

We must remember that there is but one answer to the question – development for whom? – the answer - development for us. We must build a future of opportunity for all who have committed their futures and the futures of their children to the Virgin Islands. We must no longer sit on the sidelines and let others reap the rich rewards provided by the opportunities of a vibrant Virgin Islands. We must cut away the bush that has hidden the path to opportunity; we must be participants, not just facilitators, and every job created must have the tag line ‘made for the Virgin Islands’. 

We must educate our children so they are prepared to seize the opportunities that growth and development will make possible. We must grow our economy to benefit – Crucians, St. Thomians, and St. Johnians. It serves no purpose to build or attract businesses or industries in which our residents cannot participate. 

We must be aware of the similarities and distinctions of each of our islands. We are Virgin Islanders and as Virgin Islanders we must overcome the obstacles that block our path, and open the doors that brighten our future – both we must do together. We must also realize the unique challenges each island faces; challenges which I will not shy away from. Each challenge is but a chance to succeed, and succeed we must. We can no longer afford the charade that “one size fits all” in the Virgin Islands.

We must restore economic stability and prosperity on St. Croix. We must achieve the economic diversity on St. Croix that we have spoken about for so long, and that only St. Croix can provide. A strong Crucian economy makes for a strong virgin island economy.

We must continue to ensure development of St. Thomas means gains for Virgin Islanders. We owe it to ourselves to be vigilant and true always to the people most impacted by this development.

On St. John we must eliminate the fear of many that they may lose their land, and we must restore local ownership and economic opportunity for all who live there. We will continue to foster responsible development in an effort to preserve the natural beauty and wonders that god has bestowed upon St. John. 

The people of Water Island must know that they will receive a level of government service that is equally as responsive and complete as will be delivered to all of our islands.

As we shape our future we must also be mindful of our past. We have to safeguard not just our historic places and buildings but the best of our traditions and past practices.

I believe that we must hold fast to some important traditions of our past. Some have slipped away, and we must bring them back. First among these is civility. When I was a small boy in these islands it was inconceivable that one could pass someone in the street, or even enter a room, without a “good morning”, a “good day” or a “good evening”. It is only when we treat each other with respect and decency that we can truly understand the needs of those without, the cry of our elders for assistance, the call of the physically-challenged to be acknowledged, and the heart-wrenching chaos that violence wreaks on our families and our communities.

Some things cannot be legislated, they must be lived. We need to rebuild a climate of respect and trust and cooperation that surpasses the blue skies and fair winds of our everyday weather. I shall call on all in government service to begin by remembering everyday that we are all servants of the people. All government workers must treat all in the public with civility. In return our government workers, as public servants, are entitled to the respect of the government in the form of fair compensation and the right to work under good terms of employment.

There is much that government can do – and, I commit will do, to make life better for those who need a helping hand, to give greater promise and assure greater opportunity for us all. There is, however, so much more that we can do outside of government – sometimes even despite government – to help the disadvantaged and homeless, to lend a hand to those in need and to provide an environment where our children can succeed. 

Each day we must do our part to push back the darkness of ignorance and incompetence, to eliminate the corruption that will cheat us all if we are not watchful. 

Each day we must work to find the best way, the most effective way, to apply our resources to our problems and make things better for us all.

This is what I commit to do every day as your governor ... This is what I shall demand every day of those in government.

I challenge everyone to get involved. It is not enough to only care about the issues of the day, or even the issues that affect you directly. The Virgin Islands’ great strength lies within its people and our sense of community and volunteerism. 

Here today, I offer each of you an open invitation to assist me in leading our territory, the home that I love. As I look out upon this audience I see all of the things that make the Virgin Islands great. I see our community; I see mothers and fathers. I see students and teachers. I see public and private sector workers alike. 

Together we can achieve great things. Together, we can unite as one to ensure that our future, the Virgin Islands’ future, is bright. And make no mistake, that future is very bright!

I accept this challenge and this office filled with hope and excitement for what we can do to build a Virgin Islands that makes us swell with pride – proud of how we respect and treat each other, proud of how we respect and treat our land and sea, and proud of how we safeguard our future. We can do this. Together we can. And beginning today… together we will.

God bless you all. God bless America and God bless the people of the United States Virgin Islands.

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