History
of the
Virgin Islands
Port Authority
The U.S. Virgin
Islands (USVI), an organized, unincorporated territory of the United
States of America, are group of 68 islands, islets and keys located
in the Lesser Antilles east of Puerto Rico. The main islands are
St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island, and have a
combined population of about 108,612 (U.S.
2000 Census). The capital of the
territory, Charlotte Amalie, is located on St. Thomas.
The islands were
originally inhabited by Arawak and Carib Indians before they were
discovered during Christopher Columbus’ journey in 1843. Prior to
World War 1, the islands were governed by numerous countries,
including Spain, France, England, Holland, the Knights of Malta and
Denmark. The United States purchased the islands from Denmark in
1917 during World War I for $25,000 to prohibit German expansion
into the Caribbean. The islands were renamed from the Danish West
Indies to the United States Virgin Islands.
From
1917 to 1931, the U.S. Navy administered the islands and ports with a Navy
officer serving gubernatorial duties. From 1931 through 1969,
the control of the ports
was turned over to the U.S.
Department of
Interior which managed the former military properties in the U.S.
Virgin Islands and some farmlands on St. Croix via the federal
agency, V.I. Corporation, under the leadership of Mr. Bob Kramer of St. Croix.
In 1966, the
Department of Interior transferred the management of the ports to a
newly developed agency named the V.I. Airport and Industrial Development
Agency. Alton Adams Jr., an engineer born in St. Thomas, was the
agency’s first executive director. The agency managed a fairly
self-sustaining marine division, but was faced with operational and
equipment issues at the territory’s airports which were used as
former naval hangars and would now be used for commercial air
traffic.
In
1969, U.S. Congress passed an act allowing the people of the U.S.
Virgin Islands to elect its own Governor. In 1969, the local
Virgin Islander Melvin Evans was appointed as governor of the U.S.
Virgin Islands (and in 1970 became the first elected governor of the
territory).
On
February 11, 1969, the VI Legislature
established the
Virgin Islands Port Authority, as it is known
today, and charged
the agency with the ownership and management of the territory's
public air and seaports. Adams continued as the executive
director until he resigned in Sept. 1971. He was succeeded by
Jack M. Monsanto of St. Thomas (1971-1975), John Harding of St. Thomas
(1975-1991), Gordon A. Finch of St. Croix (1991–2002) and Darlan Brin of
St. Thomas (2003-2008). Kenn Hobson who is originally from
Nevis but has resided in St. Thomas for over 40 years, is the
incumbent executive
director.
More Photos and Historical
Information
Coming Soon!
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