Above: St Croix (USVI Tourism)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Returning from meetings with cruise line executives in Florida last week, US Virgin Islands Governor John de Jongh said he emerged encouraged.

De Jongh, along with officials from the Department of Tourism Public Works, Port Authority, West Indies Company and Economic Development Authority, hosted a breakfast meeting with senior cruise officials, “people we deal with frequently, and others we don’t see that often,” he said.

According to the Governor, more cruise calls during the period that traditionally sees a lull in tourism would “promote economic growth, revenue and employment opportunities throughout the year.”

“Our objective is to get increased growth at all our ports,” he said, noting a focus on increasing calls to the territory during the off-season. “They recognize the emergence of St Croix. That has tremendous potential.”

De Jongh also introduced newly-sworn-in Police Commissioner Henry White, Jr to the executives.

Public Works Commissioner Darry Smalls gave a presentation about projects underway to renew the territory’s historic towns.

The latter was the subject of a recently-signed executive order.