Gov. John deJongh Jr. and Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty were named two of the "Caribbean’s 25 Most Interesting People for 2013" by Caribbean Journal, a regional digital news source.

The two V.I. officials, along with Seaborne Airlines Chief Executive Officer Gary Foss, join a list that includes "the fastest man in the world, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, and Barbados-born music superstar Rihanna.

According to a statement released Thursday by Government House, deJongh was singled out for his efforts to "steer the U.S. territory through perhaps its most serious crisis ever – the closure of the Hovensa refinery."

"Whether he can succeed remains a question," he Caribbean editors wrote, "but deJongh has been fearless and outspoken in his advocacy for the islands."

The governor expressed surprise at being included on the list.

"Of course, I’m committed to tackling the problems facing the Virgin Islands to the very best of my ability. That’s why the people elected me to this position,” he said. “And whether good things or bad things occur under my watch, I will always put the Virgin Islands first," he added.

"No one can deny that the closing of Hovensa has been a blow to the territory but, as I recently reported, we are making progress on the sale of the refinery which will reinvigorate St. Croix and the Virgin Islands."

Nicholson-Doty was included on the list for her tireless promotion of the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean, according to Government House. Besides leading the territory’s Department of Tourism, the commissioner is chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, to which she was elected in 2012.

If the Caribbean can "market itself as a regional destination, it will be up to the commissioner "to make that a reality," according to Caribbean Journal.

"I am delighted that our tourism efforts have been recognized by Caribbean Journal," Nicholson-Doty said. "Although I am the one mentioned, this is truly an acknowledgement of the region’s coordinated efforts to ensure the strength and attractiveness of the Caribbean tourism product."

In what the editors said was "no particular order," the others on the list, along with Bolt and Rihanna, are:
– Haitian tourism official Stephanie Villedrouin;
– St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves;
– Dominican hotelier Gregor Nassief;
– Puerto Rican chef Roberto Treviño;
– Haitian human rights lawyer Mario Joseph;
– Nevis conservationist Lemuel Pemberton;
– media innovator Tyrone Wilson;
– Ajmal Khan, who founded Verus Capital and spearheaded the brand new Caribbean Premier League in cricket;
– Adam Stewart, CEO of the Sandals resort company;
– St. Kitts & Nevis Tourism Minister Ricky Skerritt;
– Jamaican Finance Minister Peter Phillips;
– attorney Michelle Brown, who argued a landmark case before the Caribbean Court of Justice;
– fashion designer Laurent Gerville-Reache, a native of Guadeloupe;
– Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce of Jamaica, considered the greatest female track and field athlete in the world;
– Jamaican Tessanne Chin, winner of NBC’s singing competition show "The Voice";
– Jamaican entrepreneur Ingrid Riley;
– Andrew Holness of Jamaica, a politician who briefly was the country’s prime minister in 2011;
– Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, of the Dominican Republic;
– Amanda Coulson, chief curator of the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas;
– and Dana Leibovitz of the Bahamas, president of Resorts World Bimini.