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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesCeremony Marks Completion of Diageo Distillery

Ceremony Marks Completion of Diageo Distillery

"Captain Morgan" himself, Gov. John deJongh Jr. and Delegate Donna Christensen christen the new plant.It was a day of celebration, sunshine, congratulations and just a touch of defiance as officials and community members gathered at the Renaissance Industrial Park for the official commissioning of Diageo’s Captain Morgan’s Rum distillery.

Less than 18 months after they had helped shovel out the first spade-fulls of dirt at the ground-breaking ceremony, Gov. John de Jongh Jr., Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis and U.S.V.I. Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen broke bottles of Captain Morgan’s over three rum barrels. The christening symbolized the completion of construction of the plant, which will soon be producing as much as 40 percent of the rum consumed in the United States and generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for the territory.

Christensen lamented having to spill the rum in the ceremony, but with an "oh well" shrug noted that the plant had the capacity to produce 20 million proof gallons a year, and said, "They’re going to make a lot more to make up for the little bit we spill today."

For deJongh, Saturday’s ceremony was the culmination of a process that began in February 2007, when he was first approached by Diageo officials who were looking for a place to build a new refinery. Those discussions led to an agreement announced in 2008, negotiations with the Senate to approve the deal, a bitter war of words with neighboring Puerto Rico, which was not happy the company had chosen to leave their island, and the long construction period.

Saturday was special, he said.

"Very few times in life do you ever have an opportunity to make a tremendous difference in a community by something that is so different and so special," the governor said.

Thanking the assembled officials from Diageo for helping to make it come true, the governor recounted his negotiations with the company and the pledges they had made to invest in the community.

"Everything they have said they would do, they have done. They’re one company that kept their word," he said.

And to critics who carped about the terms of the deal, or who claimed the Virgin Islands had "lured" Diageo to leave Puerto Rico, deJongh said he did not meet with company officials until after being reassured they had already decided to build their own facility and were looking for a site. Once assured of that, he said, the economic benefits of the project to the territory were too good to pass up.

"There is no reason that we should ever feel ashamed for having attracted a company from somewhere else to be on the shores of St. Croix or in the Virgin Islands," he said to heavy applause from the audience of more than 200. "There is no reason that we should ever, ever be an apologist because of the growth we want for our people and the educational opportunities we want for our young people."

Diageo USVI Chairman David Cutter appeared on the dais on crutches, having recently had knee and back surgery. He told the crowd, "There were a few doctors who didn’t want me to come down for this, but to be honest I didn’t want to miss this for the world because this is a very special occasion."

"It really is a pleasure to be here today in the presence of this extraordinary new distillery, as we mark its readiness in producing rum in just over one month from now," he said.

The agreement calls for the plant to be in production for a minimum of 30 years with an option to renew for another 30. At full production, the plant will be able to produce 20 million proof gallons a year, which will bring in more than $100 million a year in rum cover-over revenues to the government of the Virgin Islands.

Following the commissioning ceremony, Diageo hosted a celebration at St. Croix Renaissance Park for community members. Attendees were entertained by a band and mocko jumbies — and Captain Morgan, of course. Entries in a juried art exhibit were on display with the winning painting to be displayed at the grand opening of the distillery next month.

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