Governor and Lt. Governor of the United States Virgin Islands

8/31/07 - Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. has proclaimed September 2007 as, "Labor Awareness Month," in the United States Virgin Islands. It is important that we note that working men and women have made significant contributions to the economic, social and cultural development of these islands. The economic competitiveness of the territory rests largely on the skills and abilities of our workforce.

Governor deJongh meets with Port Authority and WICO Boards to address cruise ship industry

8/29/07 - Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. held a meeting, this afternoon, with V.I. Port Authority and West Indian Company Board Members to address the United States Virgin Islands’ relationship with the cruise ship industry. The meeting was also an opportunity for deJongh and board members to have an open discussion about the joint approaches the organizations could utilize to achieve the objectives of stability and growth for the St. Thomas market and passenger and ship call commitments for the St. Croix market. Lt. Governor Gregory Francis attended the meeting with the Governor.

deJongh declares "Caribbean Friendship Week" in the Territory

8/24/07 - Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. today proclaimed Friday, August 24 to Sunday, September 2, 2007 as "Caribbean Friendship Week" in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This ten day period is set aside to recognize the close links of the Caribbean peoples and to foster unity and friendship between the greater Caribbean and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

deJongh addresses intent of Executive Order 437-2007

8/22/07 - Government House today issued a statement from Governor John P. deJongh Jr. clarifying the intent of Executive Order 437-2007 dated August 14, 2007. The order is solely to accommodate the salary set by the Governor for the position of Commissioner of Education. The Governor sought to dispel the inaccurate and misguided remarks directed at members of the Senate and others that the Executive Order was an indirect attempt to engineer a further raise in compensation for these officials.

VITEMA commends residents on emergency readiness, Says it’s not time to relax

8/20/07 - Steve Parris, Acting State Director of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA), commends Virgin Islanders on their level of readiness for Hurricane Dean. He reminds residents, however, to remain vigilant through the remainder of the 2007 hurricane season.

Governor mourns death of Jon Lucien

8/20/07 - From Washington, D.C., Gov. John P. deJongh Jr. Sunday evening expressed his sadness at learning of the death of Virgin Islands musician, composer, arranger and vocalist Jon Lucien. Born Lucien 'Billy' Harrigan, Jon Lucien was credited with being one of the pioneers of the smooth jazz style.

deJongh says PFA begins process to reconstruct Toror Building on St. Croix

8/19/07 - Gov. John deJongh, Jr. said Saturday that a timeline has been developed for the reconstruction of the Toro Building at Estate Orange Grove on St. Croix, as the future home of the V.I. Department of Justice. The first step in the process is the advertising for bids which will commence this week.

"This development in the long-awaited reconstruction of the Toro Building will provide an economic stimulus for St. Croix and at the same time resolve the long-standing challenge of finding a permanent home for the V.I. Justice Department on St. Croix," deJongh said.

Governor off-island this week

8/19/07 - Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. departed the territory Sunday for Washington, D.C. where he and First Lady Cecile are escorting their eldest son, J.P. deJongh, to American University. The Chief Executive’s son will attend college there this fall.

V.I. Lottery Commission meeting re-scheduled

8/14/07 - The Commissioner of Finance, Chairperson of the Lottery Commission, wishes to announce the re-scheduling of the upcoming Lottery Commission meeting. The meeting, which was originally scheduled for Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 10:00a.m., has been postponed until Thursday, August 23, 2007 at 10:00a.m., in the Commissioner’s Office at the Department of Finance.

Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation hosts baseball camps

8/14/07 - The Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Angels Baseball team, will host the Angels Youth Baseball Camp in the territory next weekend. Children ages 8-13 are urged to attend the camps on St. Thomas on Saturday, August 18, 2007, at the Emile Griffith Ball Park from 9:00a.m. – 1:00p.m and on St. Croix on Sunday, August 19, 2007, at the Renholdt Jackson Recreation Complex from 3:00p.m.-6:00p.m.

Governor names Spampinato to head Department of Education

8/14/07 - In a press conference Tuesday, Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. nominated Dr. Lynn Spampinato to head the Department of Education.

Spampinato was selected to serve as Commissioner of Education and brings a broad and extensive background to the deJongh-Francis administration. With (31) years of public school expertise, including key administrative and management positions at the highest levels, Spampinato has the requisite knowledge to lead the Department of Education in producing results and providing for improvements in the Virgin Islands public school system.

Governor signs bill 27-0066 into law but exercises line-item veto on several sections

8/7/07 - Legislation approving various projects to be funded with a $1.7 million Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development, amending sections of the V.I. Code relating to sexual offender registration records, the Teacher Incentive Scholarship Program, the receipt of unemployment benefits and the providing of several appropriations was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. While deJongh approved certain items in the bill, he was forced to veto other provisions because, as he has indicated in response to previously submitted appropriation bills, the General Fund simply cannot bear additional appropriations in Fiscal Year 2007. "I do not challenge the 27th Legislature's determinations that the proposals set forth in the vetoed sections contain worthy objectives. However, sound fiscal management practices dictate that I veto these items at this time," deJongh wrote in a Tuesday transmittal letter to Senate President Usie R. Richards.

deJongh sings bill 27-0047 into law; Acknowledges resolution to honor the late Edith deJongh Woods

8/7/07 - Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. took action Tuesday on bills recently passed by the Legislature and forwarded to Government House on July 26.

deJongh signed into law Bill 27-0047 which he says represents a positive step towards his administration’s goal of encouraging better health practices among our youth. "The reports regarding the increase in obesity in our children, which detail the adverse effects of obesity, further affirm that poor eating habits are among the various causes of this condition. Decreasing the availability of high-sugar snacks and beverages to our school-age children while they are in school is one method of improving their eating habits while they are in the care of the government."

U.S. Senators introduce bill to study Alexander Hamilton's life on St. Croix

8/3/07 - A bi-partisan group of prominent U.S. Senators led by Senators Orrin Hatch has introduced legislation to study the childhood of Alexander Hamilton, as a first step in a joint V.I. Government-National Park Service project to acquire and restore properties where the Founding Father once lived or worked on St. Croix. The U.S. Senate co-sponsors of the bill include: Jay Rockefeller, Sam Brownback, Evan Byah, Tom Harkin, Bill Nelson and Mike Crapo.

Governor forwards renewal of Group Medical Health Insurance Agreement to the 27th Legislature for review and consideration

8/3/07 - Gov. John deJongh, Jr. this week submitted for the Legislature’s consideration a proposed bill that if approved would ratify the first renewal of Group Medical Health Insurance Agreement. The agreement would provide medical insurance coverage for government employees and their dependents. Also submitted to the Senate was a copy of an amendment to the Agreement for Group Dental Health Insurance. Ratification of this agreement is not required for renewal since there was not a change in plan benefits.

Gov. deJongh addresses GERS unfunded liability

8/3/07 - Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr., met recently with members of the Government Employees Retirement System (GERS) Board of Trustees to discuss a comprehensive funding plan to accommodate the current GERS unfunded liability. As part of an inclusive, results-oriented approach, deJongh proposed a proactive and vigorous solution to the current GERS obligation.

"Addressing the unfunded liability is a top priority of my administration. With financial disbursements continuing to outpace employee and employer retirement contributions, it is a matter of financial health that we address the funding options needed to bring resolution to the immediate fiscal pressures and quell the concerns of our Virgin Islands pensioners," deJongh said.