USVI governor, John deJongh. Photo: Susan Mann

DeJongh's administrative touchstones are: management, communication, accountability and leadership. The governor talked about issues which impact the quality of life for island residents. He said critical government agencies had been "hollowed out"  by attrition and would be rebuilt. Almost half of the attorney positions in the attorney general's office are vacant.

The governor plans to increase foot patrols and auxiliary units at the community in order to solve open crimes and fight gang violence. He plans to recruit and hire new police personnel "with out delay." However, deJongh said the bigger problem in the Attorney General's office is "not about a lack of attorneys, and it's not about money"and "it's about a system that cannot hire and identify people in a timely manner." He then characterized the USVI personnel system as "a nightmare." DeJongh presented the initial administrative and personnel appointments which are under way to re-structure several key government agencies.
 
This administration has set an ambitious goal for the Department of Education. Each fourth grader will be expected to read at grade level with in the next five years. The governor also expects services for homeless residents and people disabilities, including those with mental illness to be made available because "our traditions and our personal morality require us to do no less." 

DeJongh spoke about health care costs, making home ownership accessible to each Virgin Islander, and problems between the VI Port Authority and the West Indian Company about cruise ship docking. Representatives of those agencies recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to seek arbitration by the Federal Maritime Commission, rather than seek assistance from the VI Government. Virgin Islands public housing, funded by HUD, is currently being operated by the Federal Government.

The EDC program, another federal initiative, is designed to offer tax breaks to businesses in the territory which meet the criteria, has been significantly hindered by the US Treasury's decision to conduct tax audits going back "limitless years."  The governor said, "We must and will stand up against these efforts, on the part of the US Treasury."

The territory currently owes back pay amounting to 400 million dollars to government workers.  On December 27, 2006, then Gov. Charles Turnbull sent a bill to the legislature to give themselves, the Lt. Governor, and the Governor significant pay raises The bill was voted into law, and resulted in the current "recall" petition campaign which would oust several of those senators who voted for the pay raises from office. 
 
DeJongh did not mention any political party during his speech. He shook hands with as many senators as he could before taking the podium, and did the same before leaving Ottley Hall after his speech. He quoted from the American-American poet Maya Angelou. He seemed to continue on with his campaign theme "Together we can", adding "Together we will." For the most part, those senators who were asked by local commentators for their opinion on the speech were supportive and pleased.

To read the full text of deJongh's State of the Territory address go to http://www.governordejongh.com/  on the web.