Jan. 1, 2007 — The word "hope" reverberated through Emancipation Gardens Monday morning as hundreds of citizens and local dignitaries gathered to celebrate and usher in a new administration headed by Gov. John deJongh and Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis.
Monday's swearing-in ceremony, while official, was less about pomp and circumstance and more about allowing the audience to get to know the candidates on a personal level. Various speakers took residents on an emotional journey through the lives of deJongh and Francis, discussing childhood events and personal hardships.
Community Foundation stalwart Alda Monsanto related tales of deJongh as a young boy, talking about the values instilled by his mother, Dolores Webb deJongh. "His mother was a stickler for kindness … and we have all witnessed how much John has incorporated her values into his daily life," she said.
Like other speakers, Monsanto also conveyed her sincere belief in deJongh's ability to lead the Virgin Islands, calling him "honorable, courageous, fair and innovative."
"I remember John always having a different way of thinking and perceiving the world around him," she said, her face glowing with a bright smile. "And he knows that accomplishing a task means turning the world upside down, even for a minute."
Francis' accolades came from daughter Genelle R. Francis, who described her father as "giving and respectful, mindful of others, with both feet on the ground."
"He speaks from the heart and he works from the heart," she said. "There is no one better for the job. I'll vouch for him — I've known him for 27 years and he has never let me down."
Her passionate remarks set the tone for the rest of the ceremony, which consistently hit upon two major themes: family and togetherness. While the two officials were physically separated from a majority of the audience — deJongh and Francis sat under the garden's bandstand — they embraced family members, shook hands with well-wishers and cried during some of the speeches.
In his inaugural address, Francis also spoke fondly of his mother, Hyacinth Wilson-Francis. She kept their home "warm with love," he said.
"We did live in a housing project, and my mother never had much money, but she kept our house rich with love, hope and ambition," Francis said, spurring loud applause from the audience. "And it's these values that I dedicate myself to bringing to the families of the Virgin Islands. As your lieutenant governor, I will not let you down."
DeJongh, a father of three, talked about the need to make the territory a "safer place" for his children and the children of other community members.
"Blessed as we are, we know we can and must do better," he said. "We can no longer accept that a third of our children live in poverty, we can no longer accept that many of our students read below grade level, we can no longer accept that so many of our young people choose to leave us and if they return they cannot find a home and we can no longer ignore that there are senior citizens sitting in darkened rooms unable to pay their power bills."
The road to a better Virgin Islands lies in building stronger communities, deJongh said, safe from "crime, safe from violence and free from the scourge of drugs."
"With safe communities we can raise our children, grow our economy and build businesses and wealth for ourselves both through employment — and ownership," he said.
Both officials pledged to attend to the individual needs of each island and take steps toward unifying the territory by bringing citizens into the decision-making process and correcting the ills of previous administrations.
"I believe in customer service, and as taxpayers, as residents, you are entitled to good customer service," Francis said. "And I want to help change the perception and the reality of the conversations on both sides of the desk, making sure that every member of the public is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve."
V.I. residents have put forth a clarion call for a "competent and transparent government; one that serves the interests of all, not just a chosen few," deJongh said.
"We agree that we must work together, and include everyone, regardless of color, class, religion or background," he said. "We must build a future for all. We must build a future we can all take ownership of and pride in."
Francis took the oath of office first, administered by V.I. Supreme Court Justice Maria M. Cabret, while deJongh was sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice Rhys S. Hodge.
The audience burst into thunderous applause with two simple sentences.
"Failure is not an option," Francis said in his inaugural speech.
In speaking about the role the public will play in the new administration, deJongh added, "Together we must accept this responsibility — our personal responsibility — and refuse to accept any outcome other than complete success."
Tradition was also the order of the day Monday, as deJongh and Francis, like all previous gubernatorial candidates before them, were sworn in under the roof of the David Monsanto Bandstand in Emancipation Garden.
The two were also serenaded throughout the day with music by the 73rd Army Band (playing such tunes as "Governor's Own" by Alton A. Adams Sr.), the Charlotte Amalie High School Symphonic Band and the Caribbean Chorale.
Senate President Lorraine L. Berry presented DeJongh with the symbol of the office of the governor. The ceremony also honored outgoing Gov. Charles W. Turnbull for his years of service to the Virgin Islands.
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
