Candidate for governor, John DeJongh

The three candidates for USVI governor

St Thomas-St John voters listen intently
Photos by Susan Mann

ST JOHN, USVI: Rains swept across the USVI as tropical storm Ernesto moved through the Caribbean during the last three days of  August. After an initial cancellation, the St John Democratic Club moved two of "the first ever" St John political debates from the community park in Cruz Bay to packed conference rooms at the Westin Resort. 
 
By the final evening with the weather front having moved on, the senatorial debate was moved back to the park. During each debate three moderators asked questions submitted by the audience, one per candidate. Candidates were allotted a two-and-one-half minute response time, with 90 seconds afforded for rebuttal comments.
 
On August 29, the candidates for Lt. Governor kicked off the debates. The three candidates and running mates are; Roy Jackson, St. Thomas, Gregory Francis, St. Croix,  and Lorraine Berry, St. Thomas. 

The candidates for Governor were on hand the following evening. Running on the Democratic ticket are; Lt. Gov. Vargrave Richards, St Croix, and business man John deJongh of St Thomas, with recently retired St Croix Judge Edgar Ross seeking office for the Independent party.
 
The only candidate running for governor on the Republican ticket this year is former Senator-at-Large MAPP Liburd of StThomas, whose participation in the primary election campaign has been minimal to date.
 
On the last night of the debate senatorial candidates answered questions for a smaller, but animated crowd back in the ferry dock area. Several of the 23 senatorial candidates were present to answer questions, including six who seeking re-election.
 
Lt. Governor Vargrave Richards said during his opening remarks that he was a "son of the soil", and that he "knows how to follow and he knows how to lead." He said his experiences include; "teacher, labor leader, manager, senator and  Lt. Governor." 
 
Richards favors a municipal government among the three islands, and said he would "empower an administrator with the ability to conduct local business." He would assure that the USVI Organic Act is amended to pave the way for this new approach.
 
Richards has run on a platform which includes taking credit for fully automating the inefficient, and often controversial, paper record keeping system of the Virgin Islands during his tenure in office. Richards has said he will bring about 1,500 new jobs to the VI, and vowed to purge or re-group the various VI Boards and Commissions assigned to the business of governing services to the public.
 
The Lt. Governor said there should be a local, Chief of Police to address the burgeoning crime rates on each of the islands. He discussed his plans to take control of  the agencies in charge of the much publicized, planning and development on St John.
 
This is the second run for Governor for John deJongh, who has a very strong base of support on St John, where the fewest numbers of voters reside. He said he has experiences as "a banker, Comissioner of Finance, Executive Assistant to the Governor, an insurance agency manager, running a real estate agency, and is currently President of the Community Foundation of the Virgin islands (a non-profit group which serves the residents of St. Thomas)." He then pointed out that 33 percent of VI children are living in poverty.
 
Most, if not all of DeJongh's answers included a focus on  integrating the expertise of  business, government, and citizens in solving the territory's problems. He says he feels (St John) citizens should be able to access "government customer service available in an online system of one-stop shopping, a seamless activity." The candidate's comment about having a "signatory (administrator) on St John was very popular with local residents.
 
An equally positive response from the crowd was received when deJongh announced that "if St Johnians don't want the parking garage built, it won't be." (Citizens have signed petitions and held public meetings putting the VI Governor on notice that they do not want the garage to be built in the location the Government has selected, but to no avail.) 
 
Ross mentioned his law degree, and life long experience and familiarity with the laws of the US Virgin Islands. He also highlighted the fact that he viewed his bid for governor as an opportunity to be of service to the citizens of the USVI. He said he had big plans for travel, and other activities for his post retirement years, but felt strongly about continuing to serve the people.
 
His campaign literature says if elected he will pledge "No backroom sweetheart deals, no contracted secrets, no fabricated emergency contracts, no unfair fees and taxes."
 
The resounding theme of his remarks throughout the evening were related to adherence to the laws of the USVI while still making much needed changes. Several times when his opponents mentioned popular, sweeping changes, his rebuttals included the fact that what they had in mind was not possible unless the present laws were amended or revised. he mentioned that the USVI will be holding a constitutional convention next year. 
 
Judge Ross is personally very well liked on "the big island" of St Croix. His running mate, Lorraine Berry, a prominent French descendant from the "French Town" section of St Thomas, has 25 years of experience in the Virgin Islands legislature.
 
Berry is very outgoing, and relishes her role as Senate President. She does not hesitate to ask the very hard questions of  her colleagues, or government officials regardless of their political affiliation. In a booming voice, Ross wrapped up his closing remarks with "the Ross-Berry ticket, the Rock of Gibraltar!"
 
 
Meanwhile deJongh recruited hundreds of supporters to pound the pavement on his behalf, handing out not only tee-shirts and hats, but scarves. He expresses himself extremely well as an impromtu speaker, and seems to convey a thorough knowledge of any concern, conveying well researched answers.
 
His running mate Gregory Francis, has been highly involved in the management of government affairs on St Croix, and could potentially fulfill the role of making St Croix citizens, who have felt so left out of the government process that they have actually petitioned to secede from the USVI in the past, feel more included in the territory's cumbersome political process.
 
Lt. Governor Vargrave Richards has the advantage of already being strongly involved in the inner workings of Government House. One of his campaign jingles ends with "...it would be crazy to vote him out now."
 
While Governor Turnbull continues to win awards for leadership, this week receiving one from the Virgin islands African Association for Humanitarianism, he has lost a significant amount of the public support, which made it easy for him to sail through a first term, and easily win a second. How this will effect the outcome of the general election for Richards remains to be seen.
 
Earlier this week UVI Professor, Dr Solomon Kabuka released research findings regarding the outcome of  the primary election to the media. At that time deJongh was in the lead. However, Kabuka pointed out that when all things were considered, it also appeared the race would be very close. All candidates and their respective volunteers were out in full force getting in last minute efforts at this writing.