Governor Departs Territory for Two Days of Meetings in Washington, D.C.

Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. departed the territory Monday morning to attend two days of meetings in Washington, D.C.

On Monday afternoon, de Jongh will meet with officials at the U.S. Department of State to discuss the territory’s inclusion in the Obama administration’s Caribbean Basin Security Initiative,” according to Government House Director of Communications Jean P. Greaux, Jr. The governor is expected to discuss the territory’s role in the security initiative which was launched by President Obama in 2009 and which seeks to substantially reduce illicit trafficking while increasing public safety and security and promoting social justice. 

De Jongh’s meetings on Tuesday are a continuation of discussions with officials of Health and Human Services about the implementation of health care reform legislation in the territory. Earlier this month, de Jongh wrote to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to not only update her on the territory-wide task force that he established to implement health care reform in the Virgin Islands but to express his concern that there may be some uncertainty over the extent to which insurance regulatory reforms and other consumer protections will be applied to the U.S. territories. Other meetings planned for Tuesday include a discussion with officials of the Treasury Department as regards how certain federal tax laws are applied in the territory.

De Jongh returns to the Virgin Islands on Wednesday. In his absence and in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Organic Act of 1954, as amended, Lt. Governor Gregory R. Francis will serve as Acting Governor. 

###