March 21, 2003 – "Industry and Community Working Together" is the Hovensa oil refinery's new slogan, unveiled at a ceremony Friday afternoon.
"We're very proud that we feel we've selected a slogan that reflects what we mean to the community," Sam Baptiste, the refinery's coordinator of craft training, testing and schools, said.
Hovensa's human resources generalist, Laurine Willie-Paul, came up with the phrase that a selection committee chose from more than 200 entries. She said the slogan articulates the company's ideals.
To reflect company's commitment, the ceremony included remarks by education leaders who outlined ways Hovensa contributes to the community — such as providing training that helps prospective refinery employees garner the skills they need, career fairs, tutorial programs, scholarships and school-improvement projects.
"I believe it is important for everyone to join together as a community and help young people achieve their goals," Willie-Paul said. "Hovensa and its employees are dedicated to this."
Hovensa has pledged to assist the island's public high schools — St. Croix Educational Complex and Central High — to earn accreditation. In November of 2001, CHS and the two public high schools on St. Thomas lost their accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Complex has never been accredited.
"I'm touched to see a company extend its goals to include education," CHS Principal Kent Moorhead said at Friday's ceremony.
Roy Pemberton, principal of the Complex Vocational School, called Hovensa a "good corporate citizen." The company has "provided all kinds of help to us at the vocational school," he said, citing free craft skills training for vocational students. "I can't say enough to show my appreciation for the assistance."
Complex Principal Kurt Vialet said the most important investment a company can make is in public education. He pointed to an instance in which his school's air conditioner broke down. The cost to repair it was $17,000, which the school could not pay. Hovensa purchased a replacement system and installed it for the school.
"If more companies follow suit, I'm sure we'll be on the right track and see education take off in the Virgin Islands," Vialet said.
Hovensa's president, Rene Sagebien, said that maintaining a good relationship with the community is imperative, and to do so, being a good, responsible corporate citizen is necessary. Being united within the company also is necessary to accomplish that goal, he added.
"It takes people to work as a team," Sagebien said. "We must promote cohesiveness amongst ourselves and have the same kind of togetherness we have in the community."
He said the futures of the company and the Virgin Islands are connected: "Whatever is good for Hovensa is good for the Virgin Islands, and whatever is good for the Virgin Islands is good for Hovensa."
Last October, Hovensa formed an "action committee" to address issues such as education, insurance problems and tort reform. Until Friday, participation on that committee was restricted to people affiliated with Hovensa.
However, at the ceremony Baptiste extended an invitation from the committee to anyone in the community who wants to become involved. For more information about the Hovensa Action Committee, call Baptiste at 692-3450 or Lynette Barnes at 692-3286.

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