Governor and Lt. Governor of the United States Virgin Islands

3/31/07 - Acting Public Works Commissioner Robert Moorhead said Friday that road detours along an ongoing project on St. Croix will not take effect until April 10, 2007.

Lake nomination withdrawn; Rivera nominated as VING Adjutant General

3/31/07 - Gov. John P. deJongh has written to Senate President Usie Richards to advise him of Colonel Timothy Lake’s request that his name be withdrawn from consideration as the next Adjutant General of the Virgin Islands National Guard. The Commander in Chief of the V.I. National Guard, deJongh nominated Colonel Renaldo Rivera to fill the top position at the V.I. National Guard. Rivera had been originally selected as State Director of VITEMA, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency.

Governor deJongh address Naturalization Ceremony

3/30/07 - Governor John deJongh, Jr. was among the speakers at today's ceremonies for 195 naturalized U.S. citizens. The ceremony was organized by the U.S. District Court and held at the Reichhold Center on St. Thomas.

Governor and Lt. Governor mourn the death of former St. Croix Administrator Lawrence Bastian

3/29/07 - Gov. John deJongh expressed deepest sympathies on Thursday to the family and many friends of Lawrence Bastian having learned of the death of the former St. Croix Administrator after a prolonged illness.

"The work of Lawrence Bastian during his lifetime is noteworthy, deJongh said. deJongh recalled Bastian’s tireless efforts to advocate for veterans from the Virgin Islands during and after his service as Veterans Affairs Director. "He was relentless in his commitment to make sure that veterans living in the Virgin Islands received the same level of benefits as those who reside on the mainland." deJongh also recalled Bastian’s long history of service to numerous organizations on St. Croix in particular, the American Legion Post where he held a number of positions including District Commander. "He used this position to continue the fight for fair and adequate services for those who served our nation in the Armed Forces," deJongh pointed out.

Governor tours Harwood Complex, Expedites mold contract

3/29/07 - Governor John deJongh, Jr. toured the Charles Harwood Complex on Wednesday and met with Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Phyllis L. Wallace in an effort to expedite the Property and Procurement contract process to alleviate mold conditions in the building.

DeJongh addressed employees from the Maternal and Child Health Program. Many of the employees have been involved in work actions since Monday to protest inadequate work space. DeJongh ensured them that all would be done to continue providing services to clients and provide employees with adequate workplace conditions.

Government House reacts to federal indictments of EDC abuse

3/26/07 - In response to the announcement that the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois had filed a criminal indictment of various individuals and entities for engaging "in a scheme to defraud a legitimate economic development program in the U.S. Virgin Islands," Governor John P. deJongh Monday made the following statement:

"My Administration has been made aware that certain past abuses of the Virgin Islands EDC program have been investigated and that these investigations led to the indictment filed on March 23rd. The EDC program should and will be used only to stimulate economic opportunities for our residents as both employees and owners of businesses contributing to our economic growth. It must at all times be strictly regulated and fully compliant with all applicable laws. Whatever steps need be taken by the local government to safeguard this program which is essential to our economic future will be taken, and wrongdoing will be investigated and prosecuted by the appropriate government, local or federal."

Governor and First Lady lend support to St. Croix Special Olympics

3/25/07 - Support for the 30th annual Special Olympics in the Virgin Islands came from the leadership of government Saturday when Gov. John deJongh and First Lady, Cecile, visited the Renaissance Park on St. Croix where the games were being held to lend their support to the athletes. "The games promote self-esteem, which is very important for children whether there is a disability or not," Cecile deJongh said. The games Saturday and the St. Thomas Special Olympics on March 31 are a pre-cursor to the introduction of Camp Shriver, a two-week event that provides recreational activities for people with intellectual disabilities. Camp Shriver will be held for two weeks this summer in both island districts.

Governor expresses condolences on loss of Democratic Party stalwart Carmen Gonzalez

3/25/07 - Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. offered his sympathies to the family of Carmen Gonzalez, a tireless stalwart of the Virgin Islands Democratic Party, who died at the Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix after a long illness.

"Carmen dedicated her life in service to the Democratic Party," deJongh said in a prepared statement, noting her efforts in getting Democrats elected to public office and helping the party achieve its goals. "The former Vice Chair of the party, Carmen, was by far an effective political strategist who knew how to deliver the grass roots support for the betterment of the Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands. We have lost a passionate champion, a person who truly defined the role of a Democrat."

Attorney General: Federal judge cites improvements at prisons

3/22/07 - Federal Judge Stanley Brotman has concluded an inspection of prison and detention facilities on St. Thomas and has noted “considerable improvements made by the Bureau of Corrections to correct long-existing deficiencies,” so says Attorney General Vincent Frazer, who has oversight of the Corrections Bureau.

Acting Education Commissioner directs program manager and coordinators in V.I.D.O.E of the need to wok through the summer months on obligating 2005 federal grant

3/20/07 - Consistent with the hands-on approach the DeJongh administration has taken to minimize the amount of federal education grants returned to Washington unspent, Department of Education Acting Commissioner Lauren Larsen has directed that program coordinators and managers work during the summer months. The employees will continue to work after the end of the current school year up until Friday, July 27, 2007. Larsen wrote in correspondence to the coordinators and managers that "a recent assessment of the needs of the department associated with executing and completing the critical work of obligating and liquidating the federal funds awarded to the Virgin Islands under the FY 2005 Consolidated Grant Application within the stringent timelines of the U.S. Department of Education has determined that it is imperative that you, as a vital part of the process, remain during the summer to assist with the effort."

deJongh calls on BVI Chief Minister during trip to the British Virgin Islands

031506-2.jpg (19424 bytes) 3/15/07 - Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. paid a courtesy visit on BVI Chief Minister Dr. Orlando Smith Thursday and during a meeting identified several areas of mutual interest and benefit for continued cooperation between the two territories.

It was the first formal meeting since deJongh was sworn into office January 1st. The meting was held in the Chief Minister’s Conference Room at the Central Administration Building.

Governor huddles with public school principals over spending of federal grant money

3/15/07 - Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. wrapped up two days of meetings with public school principals, program managers and the leadership team of the Education department during which candid discussions were had about the challenges the department has had obligating and spending federal grant money. The meetings were held Tuesday at Government House on St. Croix and Wednesday at the Curriculum Center on St. Thomas. Also in attendance were Acting Education Commissioner Dr. Lauren Larsen and the two acting insular superintendents: Jewel Ross-Brathwaite on St. Croix and Lisa Hassell-Forde on St. Thomas.

HIDTA Officials commit to reinstating local drug interdiction unit on St. Thomas

031407-1-335x228.jpg (69523 bytes) 3/14/07 - Three federal agency representatives in the Virgin Islands joined Acting Police Commissioner James McCall in committing the resources necessary to provide a return to the V.I. of the drug interdiction unit known commonly as the "Blue Lightning Strike Force." The announcement was made during a two-hour meeting Wednesday between Gov. John deJongh and the executive council of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force.

Government Hill closed to vehicular traffic for a portion of the day on Wednesday

3/13/07 - Government Hill will be closed to vehicular traffic between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 to facilitate a meeting between Gov. John P. deJongh and a number of federal officials who comprise the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force Executive Council.

The HIDTA executives will brief the Chief Executive on drug interdiction operations and other anti-crime initiatives now underway in and around the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A major clean up Monday in the Subbase area

3/13/07 - The Subbase area of St. Thomas was the target Monday of the Anti-Litter and Beautification Task Force’s latest clean-up drive. Under the watch of St. Thomas-Water Island Administrator Barbara Petersen, the task force tackled the area which sits between the Subbase tennis courts and the WAPA potable water standpipe. "The area had become an eyesore for some time as mechanic shops operating in the general vicinity had expanded their work to the public roadway," Petersen said. The task force, comprised of several V.I. government agencies representatives, uncovered a number of varied alleged violations.

Governor deJongh proclaims Energy Education Week in the United States Virgin Islands

3/12/07 - Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. has proclaimed the week of March 18-24, as “Energy Education Week,” in the United States Virgin Islands. This weeks purpose is to highlight and encourage responsible and efficient use of our precious energy resources.

The Virgin Islands Energy Office is the lead agency in promoting greater energy awareness and education among the people of the Virgin Islands through outreach activities about energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. Our territory and nation have grown and prospered through the abundant production and efficient use of energy sources.

Groundwork laid for introduction of "Camp Shriver" to the Virgin Islands

3/6/07 - An initiative of First Lady Cecile deJongh will bolster the goals and objectives of Special Olympics in the Virgin Islands . A tentative agreement is set for the introduction of Camp Shriver to the island districts of St. Thomas-St. John and St. Croix this summer.

Governor congratulates Republic of Ghana on Golden Jubilee of Statehood

3/6/07 - Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. has congratulated the government and people of the Republic of Ghana on the 50th anniversary of its independence celebrated on today, Tuesday March 6th. Ghana was the first country to gain independence on the African continent under the leadership of Dr. Kwame Nhrumah whose pan-African approach to the development of Africa led to the creation of the Organization of African Union.

Governor wraps up meetings in Washington, D.C.

3/5/07 - Gov. John deJongh has concluded a series of meetings with leaders of Congress and officials of the Bush Administration. The talks came during a week-long stay in Washington D.C. where he also attended the Winter Meeting of the National Governor’s Association.

The meetings focused on issues at the Treasury, Education and Agriculture departments and with the Environmental Protection Agency. From Washington over the weekend deJongh said the discussions allowed him the opportunity to introduce himself to those in Washington that over time have become champions of territorial issues. "I had the opportunity to meet with Representatives including: Jim McCrery of Louisiana, Nick Rahall of West Virginia, Charles Rangel, who chairs the powerful Ways and Means Committee, and the House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer."

Virgin Islanders offer support to tornado victims

3/5/07 - Acting Governor Gregory Francis today sent a note of support to the Governors of Missouri, Alabama and Georgia after severe weather ripped through their states late last week killing 20 people, among them, eight students at the Enterprise High School in Enterprise, Alabama. Acting Governor Francis expressed condolences on behalf of his family, Governor John deJongh, Jr. and the people of the Virgin Islands.