Mapp, De Jongh, Turnbull, Schneider Pose For Historic Photo Op At Transition Meeting

As the Mapp administration readies itself to occupy Government House come January 5, Tuesday on St. Thomas the incoming and outgoing administrations met to discuss pertinent matters relating to the transfer of power. 

The meeting was held at Government House and Governor-elect Kenneth Mapp has made a point of reporting the smoothness with which the de Jongh administration has made the transition process.

“I want to thank Governor de Jongh for the smooth transition we have experienced so far. I thank you for the cooperation from all here at Government House. What we are attempting to do is get a good understanding of the issues confronting the government as a whole, and the government’s agencies and departments,” Mapp said.

The two teams discussed the transition process and further meetings to be held with the various department heads. Gov. de Jongh promised that, “at the close of the business day today, we will provide you a compilation of data about operations of the government’s agencies and departments. This information has been compiled in the last sixty days and will be available to you both in hard copy and in an electronic format.”

The Mapp-Potter transition team sat with Gov. de Jongh and members of his administration as the former prepares to take over, and the latter makes its exit.

The highlight of the day, however, was when four men — three former Governors and the Governor-elect–posed for a photo op, representing the territory’s leaders of the past and the future. Besides Mapp and de Jongh, former Governors Charles Turnbull and Roy Schneider posed for the picture.

Mapp and and Lt. Governor-elect Osbert Potter were elected in a landslide victory against Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen in a run-off election on November 18. On the night of his victory, Mapp said he and Potter were committed to working hard and improving the standard of living for all Virgin Islands’ residents.

“What Osbert and I would like each of you to know is that we are really committed to working hard, improving your lives, the lives of the people of the Virgin Islands, from the youngest to the most senior,” he said. “A way of quality and perfection, that folks outside could watch with respect and dignity.”

“We want to get away from doing a little bit of a lot of things, and start doing the little things, very, very well,” Mapp continued. “We’re going to get the basics right, we’re going to really, really work, first, on how we can treat each other with dignity and respect.”