Interior Assistant Secretary Domenech to Visit the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, November 12 – 15

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, Doug Domenech and Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) Director Nik Pula will be in the U.S. Virgin Islands next week from November 12 – 14, on the islands of St. Croix and St. Thomas to meet with local federal partners for discussions on Hurricane Disaster Recovery efforts, follow-up on OIA funding provided for the Office of Disaster Recovery, and review other disaster-related efforts.

“I look forward to seeing what progress has been made with respect to hurricane disaster recovery,” said Assistant Secretary Domenech. “We had fruitful discussions with Governor Bryan and his team when they visited Washington, D.C. last week and we look forward to seeing the actual progress made on the ground.”

Federal partners with whom Assistant Secretary Domenech will be meeting include FEMA Joint Field Office Director Jaqueline Heyliger, and local business entities such as the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce, and the Virgin Islands Hotel Association. Assistant Secretary Domenech will also meet with National Park Service Superintendent Gregory Camacho, to follow-up on interagency matters between the Government of the Virgin Islands and the National Park Service. 

While in the Caribbean, Assistant Secretary Domenech will also stop in Puerto Rico for meetings with the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico. Assistant Secretary Domenech represents the Department of the Interior on the board of Conservation Trust, a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to secure functional and healthy ecosystems in the territory.

For more information on the Office of Insular Affairs, visit www.doi.gov/oia or follow Assistant Secretary Domenech at @ASIIADomenech. For more information on the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico visit http://www.fideicomiso.org/home.html

The Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, and the Office of Insular Affairs carry out the Secretary of the Interior’s responsibilities for the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, OIA administers and oversees federal assistance under the Compacts of Free Association to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

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