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May 12, 2008
GOVERNOR TO MEET WITH NEW OWNERS OF CRUZAN RUM Governor John P. deJongh Jr. will depart later today for Paris, France where he will hold meetings with Chairman Patrick Ricard and Managing Director Pierre Pringuet of Pernod Ricard, Ltd. Pernod Ricard recently won the public auction of V&S by the Swedish government. V&S is the parent company of Virgin Islands Rum Industries, Ltd. The purpose of the trip is for deJongh to discuss with Pernod Ricard’s senior management their plans for the future of Cruzan rum. The ownership of Cruzan Rum has changed several times over the past decade, and the Chief Executive intends to discuss the future of the company and convey to Pernod Ricard the importance of stability and growth in rum exports to the territory. Pernod Ricard presently produces both Malibu and Havana Club brand rums. "We are facing an increasingly competitive marketplace with respect to rum production in our region, and it is essential that we secure long-term agreements that will provide stability to our rum industry. Even as the Cruzan brand has grown under recent owners, we are highly dependent on VIRIL bulk rum sales for the volume of matching fund revenues that we currently receive,” deJongh said. The governor said the overall goal is to create long-term partnerships that will provide support and stability for Cruzan Rum and predictability to government finances over the years ahead. DeJongh traveled to Boston on Saturday where he and First Lady Cecile deJongh attended the JFK Profiles in Courage Dinner Sunday night. The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award is the nation's most prestigious honor for elected public servants. The Profile in Courage Award was created in 1989 by members of President Kennedy's family to honor President John F. Kennedy and to recognize and celebrate the quality of political courage that he admired most. The award is named for President Kennedy’s 1957 Pulitzer prize-winning book, Profiles in Courage, which recounts the stories of eight U.S. Senators who risked their careers by taking principled stands for unpopular positions. The award is presented annually to a public official or officials at the federal, state or local level whose actions best demonstrate the qualities of politically courageous leadership in the spirit of Profiles in Courage. The award is presented each May at a ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in connection with the observance of President Kennedy’s May 29 birthday. In deJongh’s absence and in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Organic Act of 1954, as amended, Finance Commissioner Claudette Watson-Anderson will serve as Acting Governor. Lt. Governor Gregory Francis left the territory last week to attend commencement exercises for one of his children on the U.S. mainland. Watson-Anderson will serve as Acting Governor until Francis returns to the territory at mid-week. Francis will assume the post of Acting Governor until deJongh returns to the territory at the end of the week. |
