Govenor Terms Newly Negotiated Contract as an "Investment in Teaching and Learning"

8/31/08 - GOVERNOR DEJONGH: Today is Labor Day, a holiday of great importance and tradition to those, like myself, who work each and every day to improve and defend the rights of workers. Today we acknowledge the rich history of these efforts to protect working men and women and to ensure that each day moves them, and all of us, ahead to a better life, a brighter future.

Governor Terms Newly Negotiated Contract as an "Investment in Teaching and Learning"

8/30/08 - Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. hailed the newly negotiated agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Local 1825 and 1826, as an "investment in the teaching and learning process." He thanked the leaders of the AFT, Tyrone Molyneaux and Vernelle Delagarde, as well as the Chief Negotiator for the Government, Attorney Jessica Gallivan, along with the federal mediator appointed from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS), Carlos Tatte, for their dedication and commitment to achieving a mutually acceptable outcome.

Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month Proclaimed in the U.S. Virgin Islands

8/29/08 - Gov. John P. deJongh has proclaimed the month of September 2008 as “Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month” in the territory.

Governor Proclaims Alcohol and Drug Addition Recovery Month in the Territory

8/29/08 - Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. has proclaimed September 2008 as “Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month” in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Governor: Sale of Cruzan Rum to Fortune Brands Represents a More Stable Environment for St. Croix Rum Distillery

8/29/08 - Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. Thursday welcomed Fortune Brands to the U.S. Virgin Islands with the purchase of Cruzan VIRIL from Pernod-Ricard. DeJongh had been in touch with senior management of both companies during their negotiations, and conveyed the support of the Administration to ensure Cruzan VIRIL’s future.

Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. Comments on the Acceptance Speech of Senator Barack Obama

8/28/08 - From Denver, where he attended this week’s Democratic National Convention, Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. this evening released the following statement in response to Senator Barack Obama's speech accepting the Democratic Nomination for President of the United States:

Library Card Sign Up Month Proclaimed in the Territory

8/28/08 - Gov. deJongh has proclaimed the month of September 2008 as “Library Card Sign Up Month” in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Our libraries are modern community centers for education, information and entertainment, and play a vital role in providing millions of people with the resources they need to live, learn and work. They are places of opportunity; part of the American dream; a place for education, self-help and lifelong learning.

AFT and Virgin Islands Government Reach Tentative Agreement, Negotiations Process Continues

8/27/08 - At the request of the American Federation of Teachers Union, mediation talks between the Virgin Islands Government and the AFT continued this afternoon in the hopes of reaching an agreement on a new contract for public school teachers. According to Education Commissioner Dr. LaVerne Terry and Chief Labor Negotiator Jessica Gallivan, the parties have reached a tentative agreement that must now be ratified by the membership of the union and the Governor. Gallivan noted that the tentative agreement includes a four-year agreement encompassing a number of issues.

Governor and First Lady to Honor Grandparents in the Territory

8/27/08 - Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. and First Lady Cecile deJongh will honor grandparents and families during ceremonies to be held on St. Thomas and St. Croix in recognition of Grandparents Day, as proclaimed by Governor deJongh. On St. Thomas, this special observation will be recognized on Sunday, September 7th at 4:00 p.m. at Emancipation Gardens, and on St. Croix on Sunday, September 14th at 3:00 p.m. at the Agriculture Fairgrounds. Refreshments will be served. The ceremonies will include a candlelight vigil, and the Governor and First Lady will recognize the eldest grandparent in each of the two districts.

Gallivan: AFT Union Leadership Refuses to Endorse a New Contract Offer totaling tore than $25 Million

8/27/08 - Mediation talks between the Virgin Islands Government and the American Federation of Teachers union towards a new contract for public school teachers broke down around 3 a.m. this morning. According to Chief Labor Negotiator Jessica Gallivan, the mediation effort stalled after the AFT leadership refused to sign a tentative agreement on a contract proposal offered by the Government which totaled more than $25 million dollars. The latest contract offer represents approximately five million dollars more than that which was originally offered on a four-year contract and rejected by the union last month.

deJongh Administration Remains Committed to Mediation Process Despite Job Action by Teachers in St. Thomas - St. John District

8/26/08 - Governor John deJongh, Jr. said Tuesday that the government’s negotiating team will continue its participation in the mediation efforts underway with the American Federation of Teachers Union towards a new contract despite the job action launched in the St. Thomas-St. John district today. The job action has caused the early dismissal of students from seven schools.

Governor deJongh Submits Legislation to Reorganize Waste Management Authority (WMA)

8/26/08 - Before departing the Virgin Islands for Denver on Tuesday, Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. submitted legislation which, if approved by the 27th Legislature, would reorganize the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority (WMA). The proposal seeks to remove the WMA status as a semi-autonomous instrumentality of the government and rename it, the Virgin islands Waste Management Agency. Under the legislation, the new agency would become a cabinet-level department within the Executive Branch.

Governor deJongh Leads VI Delegation to Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado

8/26/08 - Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. departed the territory Tuesday afternoon to lead the Virgin Islands Democratic Party delegation to the party’s national convention. The week-long event in Denver, Colorado is expected to see Senator Barack Obama accept the party’s nomination in the November U.S. Presidential election.

Governor deJongh Visits Territorial schools, Welcomes Back Students, Teachers and Administrators

8/26/08 - Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. toured public school campuses in both districts on Monday, the first day of the 2008-2009 school year. DeJongh began his campus visits on St. Croix Monday morning at Claude O. Markoe Elementary School and continued on to Central High School, St. Croix Educational Complex, and John H. Woodson Junior High School. On St. Thomas, the Governor visited Ulla F. Muller Elementary School and Ivanna Eudora Kean High School.

deJongh hails selection of Biden as Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate

8/24/08 - Ahead of his departure to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado this week, Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. on Saturday commended Senator Barack Obama on his recent selection of Senator Joe Biden (D-Delaware) to be his running mate on the Democratic ticket for President and Vice-President of the United States.

Governor deJongh to visit Territorial Schools Monday - Opening Day of the New School Year

8/24/08 - Governor John P. deJongh will tour public school campuses in both districts on Monday which marks the first day of the 2008-2009 school year.

According to Government House Communications Director Jean P. Greaux, Jr., deJongh will begin his campus visits on St. Croix Monday morning at Central High School at around 7:45 am. “From Central High, deJongh will visit with students, teachers and staff at St. Croix Educational Complex, John H. Woodson Junior High School and Lew Muckle Elementary School before returning to St. Thomas for a whirlwind tour of schools in that district,” Greaux said.

Governor deJongh and Interior Secretary Kempthorne tour St. Croix and St. John, Announce $2.5 million in grants

082208-1.jpg (33033 bytes) 8/22/08 - On Thursday, Aug. 21 and Friday, Aug. 22, Governor deJongh welcomed Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne to U.S. Virgin Islands for a series of meetings and other events.

During the secretary's first official visit to the USVI, part of a tour of all U.S. Territories, deJongh and Kempthorne announced an agreement to form a Working Group to identify steps necessary to complete a land swap between the Government of the Virgin Islands and the National Park Service to provide a usable site on the island of St. John for the construction of a high school.

deJongh nominates Judith McDonald Richardson to serve on St. Thomas-St. John District Hospital Governing Board

8/20/08 - Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. has nominated Judith Mc Donald Richardson to serve a three-year term on the Virgin Islands Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation, St. Thomas - St. John District Governing Board. Richardson will replace Dilsa Capdeville who was nominated on August 1st but has since asked that her name be withdrawn from consideration for personal reasons.

Governor offers Condolences to Family and Friends of Community Activist Walter Lewis

8/20/08 - Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. said Wednesday he was saddened to learn of the death of respected community activist Walter Lewis.

"The Virgin Islands community joins the Lewis, Garfield and Krigger families in mourning the loss of this giant of a man who could best be described as a multi-faceted public servant," deJongh said.

deJongh nominates Judith McDonald Richardson to serve on St. Thomas-St. John District Hospital Governing Board

8/19/08 - Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. has proclaimed Sunday, August 24, 2008 as “Back-to-School Day of Prayer” in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

It is to be recognized that safety in our homes, in our schools, and in our streets, and freedom from the fear of violence is important to our residents and visitors to the Virgin Islands. We want to make our schools safe and peaceful learning environments free from violence.

deJongh joined call by nation's Governor's for renewable energy tax credit extension

8/16/08 - Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. has joined his colleagues in the National Governors Association (NGA) in urging Congress to extend, for at least five years, tax provisions that encourage the development of renewable energy sources and promote energy efficiency.

Bureau of Internal Revenue hosts tax Tax Administrators Association Conference

8/16/08 - The Bureau of Internal Revenue recently hosted an association of tax administrators from the territories of the United States along with representatives of the Internal Revenue Service and Department of the Interior. The annual meeting of the All Islands Tax Administrators Association (AITAA) was held on St. Thomas.

VITEMA: Strong Tropical Wave and associated area of low pressure moving West-Northwest into the Virgin Islands tonight and Friday; Flash Flood Watch in effect for the Territory through Friday

8/17/08 - A large mass of showers and thundershowers across the Northern Leeward Islands and the adjacent waters late this afternoon was associated with a strong tropical wave and an associated low pressure center. According to VITEMA State Director Mark A. Walters, most of the associated weather has been gradually moving in a westerly direction. "Forecasters at the National Weather Service have indicated that bands of scattered to numerous showers and thundershowers could affect the Virgin Islands tonight. Satellite photos late this afternoon show an impressive cloud mass over the Northern Leeward Islands and a large area of rain across this area. As the associated weather moves across the local area tonight through Friday, effects of the tropical wave are expected in the Virgin Islands."

Governor and First Lady to honor Grandparents in the Territory, Community requested to register eldest grandparent at Department of Human Services

8/14/08 - Governor John P. deJongh Jr. and First Lady Cecile deJongh will honor grandparents and families during ceremonies to be held on St. Thomas and St. Croix in recognition of Grandparents Day, as proclaimed by Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. According to the proclamation, the first Sunday of September is traditionally observed each year for this importance commemoration.

Governor and First Lady hold Children and Families Council meeting, Members charged to improve services territory-wide

081408-1.JPG (24833 bytes) 8/14/08 - Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. opened the first meeting of the Children and Families Council Wednesday afternoon at Government House, St. Thomas. Chaired by First Lady Cecile deJongh, the Council will convene quarterly and seeks to improve the standard and quality of services available to children and families in the Territory. As Chairperson of the Council, Cecile deJongh provided an overview of the goals in place, with particular reference to creating delivery systems that are streamlined and integrated. Both the Governor and First Lady charged the members of the Council with taking bold steps in leading this inter-agency, public-private effort.

Shower activity in association with a Westward moving tropical wave will impact Territory on Thursday night and Friday

8/13/08 - VITEMA State Director Mark A. Walters said today that a tropical wave which should bring an increase in shower activity to the region at the end of the week remains more than 250 miles away as it continues on a west northwest track at 14 miles per hour. “The tropical wave had shown signs of development, but it is currently becoming weaker and less organized,” Walters said Wednesday afternoon following a telephone conference with FEMA officials and warning meteorologists at the National Weather Service in San Juan. Walters said that because of the weakening, the reconnaissance flight mission into the system scheduled for today has been cancelled.

Walters: VITEMA tracking two area of disturbed weather; Residents should closely monitor system's progress

two_atl.jpg (39632 bytes) 8/12/08 - Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency State Director Mark A. Walters said Tuesday that VITEMA is closely monitoring two areas of disturbed weather in the Tropical Atlantic. The first system will bring squally weather to the region later this week and an overall increase in the potential for shower activity beginning on Thursday. The second system is further to the east about 400 miles west south-west of the Cape Verde Islands.

deJongh addresses workforce development and the Diageo-USVI Government partnership at Southern Governor's Conference

8/11/08 - Governor John P. deJongh, Jr., attended the 74th Annual Meeting of the Southern Governor’s Association from August 8-11, 2008. The three-day conference featured a variety of topics, including a roundtable discussion with U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao on issues impacting workforce development; a discussion with regional Federal Reserve Bank Presidents; and a panel discussion focusing on innovations and trends in government and in public/private partnerships.