Government

The USA purchased the three Islands of St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John from Denmark in 1917, to prevent the islands from becoming a German submarine base during World War I. After the US purchased the islands they fell under the jurisdiction of the US Navy and later were granted territorial status.

The official government of the United States Virgin Islands continues its territorial relationship with the government of the United States of America. The general organization of the Virgin Islands government was created through the Revised Organic Act passed by Congress in 1954 with some powers left in the hands of the Federal government. The affairs of the island are controlled by the Governor and the Virgin Island Legislature.

Like other island nations in the Caribbean, St Croix is heavily dependent upon tourism for its economic base. Asset like special tax incentives, duty-free status, foreign trade eligibility, good commercial rental rates marvelous climate and the security of the American flag, all add to a favorable business atmosphere for potential investors.

The economy is heavily dependent on tourism, the territory seeks to expand its economic base through the further development of light and medium industry. In the 1960’smajor industries were also established on St. Croix, including Hess Oil, now called Hovensa, and St. Croix Alumina. The wisdom of the change from agriculture to tourism and industry is proven by the dynamic growth of St. Croix in the second half of the 20 th century.

The US Virgin Islands is an unincorporated US territory with a non-voting delegate to the US House of Representatives. Although everyone born here is a US citizen and a likely taxpayer, residents have no vote in national elections and their income taxes remain in the territory for local use.

Infrastructure in the islands is well developed, and boss some of the finest seaports, paved roads and airports in the Caribbean. State of the art telephone and wireless services makes possible almost instant communication with any point in the world. The VI Water and Power Authority produces and distributes electricity and desalinated water from plants on all three islands. The territory is serviced by the US Postal Service as well as UPS and Federal Express, DHL Worldwide Express and Airborne Express.

Local government operates from 8am to 5pm. Federal offices, US Postal Service and banks close for all Federal holidays. Schools and government offices close for all Federal and local holidays. For comprehensive look at the business picture call the Economical Development Commission at 340-773-6499 or the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce 340-773-1435.

Communication

The Virgin Islands Telephone Corp., known as Vitelco. Vitelco is the first in the Caribbean and one of the first in the continental United States to have total digital switching. All central offices are connected by a fiber optic cable. Digital radio then connects the islands to one another. The privately owned company has more than 50,000 telephone lines. This is larger than many European countries and has the third highest total per capita users in the Caribbean, behind only the Cayman Islands, and the Bahamas.

The Vitelco Business office in St. Croix is 340-779-9999. Same for St. Thomas.

St. John office is 340-776-6261.

Helpful Phone Numbers, St. Croix USVI

Airport 340-778-0586

American Airlines 800-484-4884

Bohlke International Airways 340-778-9177

Costal Air 340-773-6862

Delta 800-221-1212

Liat 340-778-9930

US Airways 340-774-7885

Sun Air

Vieques Air Link 340-778-9858

Emergency Numbers

St. Croix Hospital 340-778-6311

St. Thomas Hospital 340-776-8311

St. John 340-776-6400

Marine Safety 340-776-3497

US Coast Guard Aux. 340-774-6663

US Coast Guard Emergency Only 787-289-2040

Chemical and Oil Spills 800-424-8802

VITEMA 340-773-2244

Motor Vehicles

St. Croix 340-778-2211

St. Thomas 340-774-5765

St. John 340-776-6262

Attorneys

Hunt Logan 340-773-3200

Felice Quigley 340-773-7700

Flavia Logie 340-719-8181

Todd Newman 340-773-3200

Kevin Rames 340-773-7284

Banks

Bank of St. Croix 340-773-8500

Banco Popular Christiansted 340-773-0077

Bank of Nova Scotia Christiansted 340-773-1013

Frederiksted Branch 340-772-0880

Sunshine Mall Branch 340-772-2440

Sunny Isle branch 340-778-5053

Chase Bank Christiansted 340-773-1200

Chase Orange Grove 340-773-1222

VI Community Bank Christiansted 340-773-0440

Frederiksted Branch 340-772-0050

First Bank 340-773-0504

Churches

St Croix Episcopal (Anglican)

Holy Cross Upper Love 340-778-3272

St. Johns Christiansted 340-778-8221

St. Paul’s Frederiksted 340-772-0818

St. Peter’s Castle Coakley 340-778-6471

AME

Bethel Christiansted 340-773-5620

Medford Zion Christiansted 340-773-6331

St. Luke’s Est. Grove 340-778-9403

Apostolic Faith 340-778-0122

Assembly of God 340-773-4974

Frederiksted 340-772-4912

Bahia Faith 340-772-3131

Baptist

Altona Northside 340-778-1331

Calvary Upper Love 340-778-1014

Free Will 340-773-3179

Grace Mt. Pleasant 340-772-1516

Grace Golden Rock 340-773-5990

Southgate 340-773-2988

Catholic

Holy Cross Christiansted 340-773-7564

St. Ann’s Barron Spot 340-778-0484

St. Joseph’s 340-772-2005

St. Patrick’s Frederiksted 340-772-0138

Christian Scientist Society 340-773-7664

Church of God 340-773-8740

New Testament Whim 340-772-1658

Prophecy Richmond 340-778-8924

Church of Latter Day Saints 340-773-5188

Church of the Nazarene Golden Rock 340-773-4050

Central Mary’s Fancy 340-778-2380

Established on the Rock 340-773-2104

Holy Ghost Deliverance Ministry 340-773-7196

House of Prayer Ministry 340-773-7196

Jewish Community of St. Croix 340-773-0096

Jehovah’s Witnesses Richmond 340-773-7087

Whim 340-772-4092

Lutheran 340-772-0034

Lord God of Sabbath 340-773-1320

Methodist

Bethel 340-772-9779

Community United Frederiksted 340-772-1923

Richmond 340-773-4546

Moravian

Frederiksted 340-772-0268

Friedensfeld Est. Glynn 340-778-2524

Friedensthal Christiansted 340-773-1217

More than Conquerors Ministry 340-778-4834

Presbyterian 340-778-0520

St. Croix Community fellowship 340-778-6991

Seventh Day Adventist

Christiansted 340-773-1822

Central 340-778-3437

Peters rest 340-774-4564

Unitatarian Universalist Fellowship 340-778-2880

Wesleyan Holiness

Beeston Hill 340-773-1017

Colquhoun 340-778-5788

Trinity Christiansted 340-773-8335

Pets

The Animal Clinic 340-773-1256

Frederiksted Animal Clinic 340-772-4781

Island Animal Clinic 340-773-3106

St. Croix Animal Welfare Center 340-778-1650

General and Special Interest Groups

AARP 340-772-0560

American Cancer Society 340-773-6335

American Red Cross 340-778-5104

Legal Services of the Virgin Islands 340-773-2626

Lions Club 340-7783329

Lioness Club 340-774-2260

Navy League 340-773-0096

Orchid Soceity 340-774-2536

Queen Louise Home for Children 340-772-0090

Rotary Club and Inner Wheel 340-773-9333

St. Croix Amateur Radio Club 340-773-7425

St Croix Environmental Association 340-773-1989

St. Croix Landmark Soceity 340-772-0598

St. George Botanical Garden 340-772-3874

Toastmasters 340-778-0017

USO 340-772-0523

United Way 340-773-0582

Women’s Coalition of St. Croix 340-773-9272

Lending Institutions

Allied Mortgage 340-713-8263

Bank of St. Croix 340-773-8500

Flagstar 340-773-8100

First Bank 340-772-6200

Art Groups

Arts Alive 340-775-1929

Caribbean Dance Company 340-778-8824

Island Center for the Performing Arts 340-778-5272

Point Dance Company 340-778-0435

Virgin Islands Council on the Arts 340-773-3075

Schools

A-Z Academy 340-773-7909

Country Day School 340-778-1974

Good Hope School 340-772-0022

Manor School 340-773-1448

St. Mary’s School 340-773-0117

University of the Virgin Islands 340-778-1620

Title Companies

VI Title & Trust 340-773-0570

West Indies Management Trust LTD 340-778-8588

Utilities

Vitelco / Innovative / Cable 340-712-5029

Or 340-779-9999

VI Water and Power Authority (WAPA) 340-773-2250

Youth Programs

Boys and Girls Club 340-778-8990

Boy Scouts of America 340-772-0934

Civil Air Patrol 340-778-1280

4-H Club 340-778-0246

Girl scout Council 340-772-1850

Kids and the Sea (KATS) 340-773-7017

Pony Club 340-772-0401

St. Croix Swimming Association 340-778-1398