Governor and Lt. Governor of the United States Virgin Islands

022807-335x251.jpg (60490 bytes) 2/28/07 - Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. appeared Wednesday morning before a meeting of the Interagency Group for Insular Affairs (IGIA) at Interior Department headquarters in Washington, D.C. The meeting, chaired by Deputy Secretary of Interior Lynn Scarlett, was the opportunity for governors and delegates from the offshore territories to present their priorities before a panel of officials from the federal government.

Governor offers testimony to U.S. House Subcommittee

2/27/07 - Gov. John deJongh today presented testimony to the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs on issues that he deemed are "critical to the economic development and fiscal independence of the Virgin Islands." The submission of testimony to the subcommittee came at the start of four days of meetings in the nation’s capitol with leaders of both houses of Congress and officials of the Bush Administration and follows his participation in the Winter Meeting of the National Governor’s Association, also in Washington, D.C.

Third day of NGA Winter Meeting features discussion with President at the White House

2/26/07 - Gov. John P. deJongh’s third day of participation in the Winter Meeting of the National Governor’s Association featured a three-hour working session with President George W. Bush and members of his administration on issues ranging from the war’s impact on local National Guard units to the reauthorization of several components of the federal "No Child Left Behind Act."

The nation’s governors returned to the White House today following a Sunday night dinner with the President and Mrs. Bush. The meeting Monday included briefings by: the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Pete Pace who provided an update on the war in Iraq and the levels required for manning the war. The discussion also shifted to an open dialogue about the impact that the war is having on states and territorial National Guard troops.

deJongh selects Lake as VING Adjutant General; Names Rivera to lead VITEMA

2/26/07 - From Washington, D.C. where he is attending the Winter Meeting of the National Governor’s Association, the Commander-in-Chief of the Virgin Islands National Guard, Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. today announced the nomination of Colonel Timothy L. Lake as the next Adjutant General of the Virgin Islands National Guard.

Governor deJongh attends opening of NGA Winter Meeting

2/24/07 - Gov. John deJongh, Jr. Saturday joined fellow chief executives from territories, commonwealths and nearly 48 states of the nation at the opening plenary session of the 2007 National Governor’s Association (NGA) Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C. The session introduced a primary theme of the meeting: how states and territories can compete more effectively in the global economy by promoting innovation.

Governor attends NGA Winter Meeting

2/23/07 - Gov. John deJongh departed the territory today to attend the Winter Meeting of the National Governor’s Association in Washington, D.C. Following the four-day meeting, deJongh will meet with Congressional leaders and officials at the White House.

Remarks by James H. McCall at a press conference to announce his appointment as Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department

2/21/07 - Good Morning. It is an honor to be nominated by Gov. deJongh to serve as your Police Commissioner. Please permit me to begin by stating that I welcome the challenge. My entire career has been in law enforcement, and I believe there is no job better than being a policeman. And all of us who serve in the Police Department know one thing above all else and that is: police work, to be successful, requires teamwork. My commitment is to lead a team, I am happy to have Assistant Commissioner Francis on the team, and I would like to announce the appointment of Acting Chiefs for each of the two districts: Winsbut McFarlande, as Acting Chief of the St. Croix District; Milton Petersen as Acting Chief of the St. Thomas St. John District. My appointment of these two officers to serve as Acting Chiefs is but the first step in organizing, and reorganizing the VIPD so that it can indeed become a successful law enforcement team.

Remarks by Governor John P. deJongh at a press conference to announce the new leadership team of the Virgin Islands Police Department

2/21/07 - Good morning and thank you for being here. This is my first press conference since being sworn in as Governor. I have called today’s news conference to discuss an issue that is critical to every resident of the U.S. Virgin Islands, the issue of crime and public safety.

In the short time that I have been Governor, our territory has experienced a stabbing death at the St. Croix Festival—that stabbing committed by minors; the shooting of a tenth grader on the campus of a public high school and the murder of a police officer in broad daylight. These events have taken place against a background of many other, less-publicized crimes.

Governor directs flags to half-staff on Tuesday

2/19/07 - Gov. John deJongh, Jr. today directed that flags on all public buildings be flown at half-staff on Tuesday. The flags will be lowered on the day of the funeral of fallen Police Officer Ariel Frett.

Frett died on February 8, 2007 from injuries sustained in a shooting incident in Hospital Ground.

"On Tuesday, a grateful community will come together to pay tribute to a police officer who made the ultimate sacrifice in a career than spanned across 25 years," deJongh said Monday.

Hermon and Browne named to lead Personnel and Fire

2/15/07 - Gov. John deJongh, Jr. Thursday nominated directors to two of the government’s agencies, the Division of Personnel and the V.I. Fire Services.

Selected to serve as Director of Personnel is Kenneth Hermon, Jr. who was named on January 1st as Acting Director. Hermon brings 12 years of experience in personnel management to the administration. Serving as Assistant Director of Personnel on St. Croix, Hermon was instrumental in overseeing the Human Resource Management of over 3,000 employees in the St. Croix district. Additionally, he was responsible for counseling senior executives on employee development and other human resources issues. Hermon also prepared performance reports for submission to the Governor and Legislature of the Virgin Islands, providing the Division of Personnel with a solutions-oriented focus. Hermon has direct experience in setting and directing policy, given his experience in the Virgin Islands Training Initiative where he organized training activities for over 3,000 employees.

Governor names Finch and Peguero VIPA board

2/12/07 - Gov. John deJongh has nominated two members to the V.I. Port Authority Governing Board. The governor has re-nominated St. Croix businessman Hector Peguero and has selected a former executive director of the VIPA to serve on its board in the person of Gordon Finch. When confirmed by the 27th Legislature Finch and Peguero will serve three-year terms.

Governor names commissioners for three departments

2/6/07 - Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. Tuesday announced the appointment of commissioner nominees for three departments: Agriculture, Property and Procurement, and Planning and Natural Resources.

Named to lead the Property and Procurement department is Acting Commissioner, Attorney Lynn A. Millin who previously served as the agency’s general counsel. Selected for Commissioner of Agriculture is Dr. Louis “Akil” Petersen, and Robert Mathes as Commissioner of Planning and Natural Resources.