Jan. 3, 2008 — Gov. John P. deJongh Jr. reaffirmed Thursday that Monday, Jan. 7, 2008 is not a holiday in the Virgin Islands. Responding to numerous inquiries received at Government House in both districts, deJongh said the departments and agencies of government will resume work on Monday following the Christmas holidays and after the Crucian Christmas Festival on St. Croix.
“The holidays are being celebrated in grand style which will culminate with the Children’s and Adult’s Parade on St. Croix Friday and Saturday and the observance of Three Kings Day on Sunday. On Monday, the government will resume its service to the people of the Virgin Islands,” deJongh said.
Many residents inquired as to whether Jan. 7 would be declared a holiday since Three King’s Day falls on Sunday. Relevant collective bargaining agreements for the Executive Branch all provide that holiday observances are in accordance with Title 1, Chapter 11, Section 171 of the Virgin Islands Code, which no longer requires that a Sunday holiday be necessarily observed on the following Monday.
With the Crucian Christmas Festival ending on Saturday, deJongh said he thought it prudent that the government should resume work on Monday. “My Administration granted 20 hours of Administrative Leave to government workers over the past week to celebrate the last remaining events of the 2007-2008 Crucian Christmas Festival; it is now time to return to work on Monday.”
Public schools will be reopening on Monday following the Christmas recess and government employees will be back on 8 a.m. Monday to serve the public.
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.
