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Message from the Governor |
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My fellow Virgin Islanders, welcome to our first edition of the Government House Report. An informational resource to the residents of our Territory that has been prepared in order to provide news and updates about what your government and my Administration are doing on your behalf.
As your Governor, I have pledged and always worked towards the goal of providing accountability and transparency from your Government and that includes keeping you informed about what we are working on and what is planned in the future for the Virgin Islands.
I hope that you will review this newsletter to see what we have accomplished thus far and I encourage you to visit our web site:
www.Governorde Jongh.com to find out more about what is going on and to sign up for our regular e-mail updates.
I believe that here has been a great deal accomplished but I also know there is also still a large amount of work ahead of us and we can hope to be successful only if we work together towards a better future for us all.
- Governor John P.
de Jongh, Jr. |
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Gov.
de Jongh Continues Push for Economic Development in the Territory
Governor John P.
de Jongh, Jr. continues his commitment to bring real economic growth to the Virgin Islands and the arrival of DIAGEO and Captain Morgan into the territory (seen in the ground breaking photo) is a tremendous step forward.
Governor
de Jongh, Lt. Governor Francis, Senators Dowe and Sanes join officials from
DIAGEO USVI at a ground-breaking ceremony for the new rum distillery on St. Croix.
Earlier this year, DIAGEO USVI signed a land lease with the St. Croix Renaissance Group for its rum distillery and also purchased land at Estate Diamond on St. Croix for its future warehouse location. Production at the 20 million proof gallon capacity distillery will begin in 2011. Beginning in 2012, the St. Croix distillery will supply all rum used to make Captain Morgan branded products in the US market.
With the opening of the new distillery, the Virgin Islands is set to receive $100 Million a year over the next 30 years. This revenue will go a long way towards helping the Territory meet the challenges it faces in this time of economic downturn and uncertainty.
“Since the very beginning of our relationship with DIAGEO, we have worked to develop a true public-private partnership, one that I am certain will provide significant benefits and opportunities for our residents. I know that all of my fellow Virgin Islanders join me in welcoming both DIAGEO and Captain Morgan to the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said the Governor at the happy occasion of the ground breaking ceremony.
Captain Morgan is the number two premium rum in the world by volume. And the Captain Morgan rum brand has grown to nearly
seven million cases sold each year in the United States.
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Governor
de Jongh Manages Stimulus Funds
Flowing to Territory
 On February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The President’s program was created to jump-start the economy, save and create jobs, stabilize state and local budgets, and make investments that will provide long-term economic benefits.
In a press conference two days later, Governor
de Jongh outlined the tremendous positive impact the President’s program will have here in the Virgin Islands. The Territory is receiving more than $244 million in economic benefits over a two-year period. This will help to enhance the quality of our education and health systems, modernize and repair our schools, strengthen our law enforcement capabilities, provide needed services to the unemployed and those hardest hit by the economic downturn. The Governor and his recovery team have been closing managing and implementing these funds on behalf of the Territory.
To help citizens see first-hand how, and where, the
Federal stimulus money is being used in order to promote our economic recovery, Governor
de Jongh has set up a web site at
www.Governorde Jongh.com/recovery. This site features a range of resources and tools including an interactive “Stimulus Tracker” that allows anyone using the web site to click on a map point and see what a project description, what it costs, and how the funds are being used. The site also encourages visitors to share their comments and suggestions via an online form.
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| Governor Hosts Territory-wide “Town Hall” Community Meetings
Sessions Give Residents
the Opportunity to Share Concerns and Suggestions
Governor
de Jongh began a series of “Town Hall” format Community Meetings and Open Houses earlier this year in order to provide residents with an informal forum right in their neighborhoods so that they can present their issues of concern and offer suggestions directly to the Governor, Lt. Governor and the members of the Cabinet.
Governor
de Jongh answers a question from a resident during a
Community Meeting at Oswald Harris Court on St. Thomas.
The Governor has said that he looks forward to these neighborhood meetings as ‘they are an opportunity for my cabinet members and I to hear directly from residents about the issues they face in their own neighborhoods.”
Thus far Community Meetings have taken place with the residents of Estate Glynn, Mon Bijou and Estate Frangipani on St. Croix, Garden Street residents on St. Thomas, and residents of Estate Contant, Powerboyd Plantation, Pine Peace and Estate Enighed and The Valley on St. John.
Issues discussed during these Community Meetings have ranged from: traffic concerns related to parking, road conditions, and roadway projects, increased police presence and VIPD coordination with communities, stepping up police efforts in battling crime and drug trafficking, consistent schedules for public services such as garbage collection, and increased communications between the community and the Administration.
The Community Meetings will continue throughout the year with the Governor and Lt. Governor. |
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| First Lady
Launches Healthy VI Challenge
Initiative
First Lady Cecile
de Jongh earlier this year announced the Territory-wide Healthy VI Challenge, an initiative that seeks to raise awareness on overall health and wellness for all residents of the Virgin Islands. The program was launched in January in grades 7-10 in all public, private, and parochial schools and has been ongoing through this year.
First Lady Cecile
de Jongh visits Bertha C. Boschulte Junior High School to promote
the Healthy VI Challenge initiative.
The First Lady also partnered with
Ourstage.com, an online video promoter, to host a School Video Contest that invites Virgin Islands’ students to create their own informational Public Service Announcements
(PSA’s) on healthy living. The school video contest has given students the opportunity to create videos using their own voices and images to promote health issues like the importance of eating properly, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and maintaining a positive attitude and good mental health. Students submitted their videos at the end of May.
After the videos were all submitted, Virgin Islands residents were encouraged by the First Lady to select their favorite videos online from June 1st-June 30th by going to the Ourstage.com web site and voting for their favorite.
“This contest has been a wonderful opportunity for our students to lend their creative skills and ideas to a project that truly benefits the entire Virgin Islands community. I very much look forward to the results of the contest as we continue to promote a healthier Virgin Islands together,”
de Jongh said.
First and second place winners will be determined based on the results of the online vote. Winners will be announced in a special ceremony later in the year after school reopens. Winning entries will be broadcast on radio and television stations as part of the First Lady’s larger effort to help us build a healthier Virgin Islands. |
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de Jongh
Administration Maintains Aggressive Schedule to Enhance and
Upgrade Territory’s Parks & Recreation Areas
Governor de Jongh
is pressing hard to keep his promise to our Territory’s youth by aggressively pushing a schedule for the improvement of recreational areas throughout the Virgin Islands.
Governor
de Jongh poses with little league players at the
Rededication of the Alvin McBean Recreational Complex.
Housing, Parks and Recreation Commissioner St. Claire N. Williams and his agency have embarked on a mission to enhance and
upgrade parks and recreational facilities throughout the Territory. Work is either ongoing or slated to begin on refurbishing the following recreational complexes:
- Estate Campo Rico Playground
- D. Hamilton Jackson Park
- Estate Glynn Recreation Park
- Fort Frederik Park and Beach
- Castle Burke
- Emile Henerson Ballpark
- Alvin McBean Ballpark
- Bordeaux Playground
- Frenchtown Tot Lot
- Paul M. Peasron Garden
- Oswald Harris Court
- Frydenhoj Recreation Area
- Pine Peace Basketball Court
Governor de Jongh
also joined in the celebration to rededicate the Alvin McBean Recreational Complex in Estate Tutu on St. Thomas. The rededication of the sports complex, named for Virgin Islander and former Major League Baseball player Alvin O. McBean, followed the completion of renovations to the bleachers, rest- room and concession areas, the installation of new energy efficient sports lights as well as a resurfacing of the basketball court and the installation of a new scoreboard. The Governor also threw out the ceremonial first pitch marking the beginning of play at the rededication ceremony.
“We must always continue to provide our young people with the facilities and every opportunity to explore and develop to their full potential, as both athletes and healthy citizens. I know we have many more good, and great, professional athletes growing up among us. We must encourage and support them,”
de Jongh said. He voiced continued support for the rehabilitation and renovation projects ongoing at a number of other locations Territory-wide. To see a listing of the current and future projects, please visit the Governor’s web site at www.Governorde Jongh.com
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Housing Developments Continue Territory-wide
The de Jongh-Francis Administration is continuing in its efforts to create and improve housing opportunities throughout the Territory for our residents.
Governor de Jongh
and his team have initiated negotiations with the Virgin Islands Housing Authority
(VIHA) for the return of thirty-five (35) acres in Estate Bordeaux to the local government. In addition the VIHA has commenced the refurbishment of vacant apartments in various housing communities.
In January, Governor
de Jongh presided over a ceremony transferring parcels of real estate in
Estate Bordeaux from the federal government back to the
VIHA. The property will be used as a site
for future homeownership initiatives. Senators Louis Patrick Hill and Celestino White, Sr., VIHA Executive
Director Robert Graham, and Senator Carlton Dowe also participated in the ceremony.
The Administration also successfully merged the merged the housing component of the Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation into the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority
(VIHFA) to centralize all efforts in the affordable housing area. VIHFA is renovating 40 of the units transferred over and constructing 88 new units financed through the use of Low-Income Tax Credits.
Other housing areas of focus include:
- Support of the Calabash Boom Residential Project on St. John which is nearing completion
- A Request for Proposal is already issued to build fifty (50) new homes on St. Thomas
- A Request for Proposals already issued to build fifty (50) new homes in St. Croix
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Creating Small Business Opportunities and Improving Industry
Administration Focuses on
Development of Business
Opportunities Throughout the
Territory
Governor de Jongh
has been focused on increasing industry in the Virgin Islands and
creating more small business opportunities throughout the Territory. The Governor’s initiatives have included:
- Starting a performance bonding program that assists local contractors
- Providing greater access for more local
companies to work on construction projects
- Funding an initiative on St. Croix so that Taxi Vans and Drivers could meet the
requirements established by the cruise lines for passenger transportation
On board the cruise ship Disney Magic, Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson Doty and Governor
de Jongh join the ship’s Captain Tom Forberg to celebrate the return of cruise ships to St. Croix in January.
Additionally, the Governor has worked to build existing industries like Tourism. Governor
de Jongh was extremely pleased to bring the long awaited return of cruise ships back to St. Croix. The Governor, Lt. Governor and the St. Croix community welcomed this tremendous news for the Big Island. The Administration’s ongoing efforts in working with the major cruise lines to provide regular cruise ship traffic to St. Croix and diversify the visitor mix to the island provides both economic stability and growth.
With the return of Disney Cruise Lines in January and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines in February, St. Croix has now begun to see a much anticipated increase in activity for small business owners, retail shops, vendors and on-shore excursions.
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