Mapp Promises Not To Betray Hope of People, Will Pay ‘Special Attention’ To St. Croix

At a post inaugural event held Tuesday in Frederiksted, where most of the formalities exercised at Gov. Kenneth Mapp and Lt. Governor Osbert Potter’s inaugural ceremony Monday in St. Thomas were replicated, Gov. Mapp promised Virgin Islands’ residents that his administration would not betray their “hope, expectations and aspirations.” However, he cautioned that the process of rebuilding the territory would not happen overnight, and it would be the result of both the government and the people working together.

The Governor also said he would pay “special attention to the needs of St. Croix,” the island hit the hardest by an economic downturn the territory faced over the last eight years.

As is his custom before addressing an audience, Mapp first gave thanks to God for giving him the “strength, the health and the opportunity” to stand before the people.

Participants march at post inaugural event held in Frederiksted.

The Governor went on to say he was “deeply humbled” by the relationship residents of the Virgin Islands have had with him that spanned more than 30 years, and thanked them for their “love, support and guidance, and tongue-lashing” when he needed it.

In his speech preceding the Governor’s, Lt. Governor Potter vowed that the new administration would not betray the people’s trust, a sentiment echoed by Mapp during his own speech.

“I want you to know that as Osbert says, it is sinking in, and both of us will not betray your hopes, your aspirations and expectations,” the new governor said. “We have no agenda, I have no one I am interested in getting even with. I have no one to settle any scores with. We are deeply committed and only interested in the well-being and a brighter future for you, the people of the Virgin Islands.”

Then, Mapp made known that although he seeks to grow the territory as a whole, he would show “special attention” to St. Croix.

“And as Governor of this territory, I will be working hard with my team, with the community, to advance the well-being of each of islands of this territory, but I’m going to pay special attention to the needs of St. Croix,” he said.

The Governor later spoke of the need for people who applied for jobs in his administration to be prepared to work hard, adding that their jobs should not be their lord and master.

Bands marched through Frederiksted at post inaugural event for Gov. Kenneth Mapp and Lt. Gov. Osbert Potter.

“I am humbled when you bow and curtsy in front of me, but we gave up England a long time ago,” he said. “We are your public servants. We are your number one public servants, and as we interview and speak with people to serve in our administration, and serve in our cabinet, I have a series of questions that I have to ask: Are you prepared to work long hours? Are you prepared to work hard? Are you prepared to motivate others and give them a path to achievement through education and training, so that they can be better, and not try to lock people down [and] withhold information from them so you can control them?”

Mapp also stressed the importance of allowing creative freedom to be expressed within his administration.

“Lieutenant Governor Potter and I, our administration, is about freeing the souls and spirits of the creativity of our people,” he said.

Inaugural events continue today in St. John. For more details, go here and here.