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OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR LAUNCHES TERRITORIAL SELECTION PROCESS FOR VIRGIN ISLANDS COMMEMORATIVE QUARTER DESIGN

Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. recently selected members of the community from throughout the territory to advise him on the creation and design of a Virgin Islands Commemorative Quarter. Following legislation sponsored by Delegate Donna Christian Christensen in 2007, The United States Mint requested that the Virgin Islands design a commemorative quarter. Throughout the nation, the development of a design is overseen by the Office of the Governor. In the territory, individuals were invited by Governor deJongh to participate on the Virgin Islands Commemorative Quarter Selections Committee to create and design a special-issue coin. The final three designs have been released to the general public for review and selection.

“This recognition by The United States Mint is a great honor and gives Virgin Islanders and the people of this nation another opportunity to learn about V.I. history. One of the goals of the Selections Committee was to encapsulate a message that recognizes the beauty of the islands, as well as our culture, heritage, and our dynamic experience as a people. I would like to congratulate the Selections Committee for their diligent efforts to involve the community as much as possible in selecting a final design for this special coin,” deJongh said.

In January 2008 Governor deJongh selected the following members to establish the Selections Committee: Ms. Delta Dorsch (facilitated by her niece, Claire Roker); Mr. Richard Schader; Dr. Gilbert Sprauve; Dr. Edith Ramsay; Allegra Moorehead from the V.I. Department of Tourism; Mr. Myron Jackson, Director of the Virgin Islands Cultural Institute; Mr. David Knight; and Ms. Lorna Thomas, Director of the State Historic Preservation Office. The committee is facilitated by Lesley Commissiong, Special Assistant to the Governor.

The final three choices for the commemorative quarter are available at the Governor’s website address: www.governordejongh.com. Individuals may visit the website and vote electronically for their choice, where an electronic ballot is featured. Paper ballots are also available at Government House, the Administrator’s Office on all three islands, and at all public libraries and Public High Schools throughout the territory. In addition, a copy of the ballot will be placed in the Virgin Islands Daily News, the St. Croix Avis, as well as the St. John Tradewinds. 

The selection process for the Virgin Islands Commemorative Quarter began May 22, 2008, and the process will last three weeks, concluding on June 13, 2008. At the end of the selections process Government House will tabulate the results of the vote and will forward a final design to The United States Mint based on the votes of the community and the final approval of the Selections Committee.

To date, over 7,000 ballots have been cast for a Virgin Islands Commemorative Quarter design, including approximately 6,000 votes from the Governor’s web site.

“This is a truly historic process, and I am pleased at the tremendous response of the community in voicing their personal choices for a Virgin Islands Commemorative Quarter design. No matter which design wins, as a territory we are collectively choosing the design for our Virgin Islands Commemorative Quarter together.” Governor deJongh also thanked Delegate Donna Christian Christiansen for her leadership in the United States House of Representatives in sponsoring the legislation that enabled this great honor.

Over 500 million Virgin Islands Commemorative Quarters will be produced in 2009 and will be released for circulation at the end of next year. Proof Quarter Sets will be available early next year. The District of Columbia and the five other United States Territories, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa will each be honored with a Commemorative Quarter, to be released in 2009 in equal, sequential intervals.

Individuals interested in learning more about the selections process may contact Ms. Lesley Comissiong, Special Assistant to the Governor, at 340-774-0001 for more information regarding the process. 

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