Gov. Mapp To Address Territory Tonight: Economy, HOVENSA In Focus

Governor Kenneth Mapp will give his first State of the Territory Address, Monday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall in St. Thomas, where he is expected to speak on a range of topics, including the Virgin Islands economy, healthcare, the HOVENSA standoff, government deficits and other matters.

The address will broadcast locally on WTJX Channel 12 and on the VI Legislature’s Channel 6.

According to VI law, the governor is invited by the president of the Legislature to address the territory. Sen. Neville James is the president of the 31st Legislature.

VI Consortium reached out to Government House seeking details about the governor’s speech.

Kimberly Jones, director of communications for the Mapp administration, said in a telephone interview today that Mapp would touch on all the pertinent issues of the territory, including human services, healthcare, veterans affairs, HOVENSA, the territory’s workforce, the governor’s plans to create jobs, and more.

When asked if the governor would comment on the press conference former acting Attorney General Soraya Diase-Coffelt held on Jan. 23, detailing a host of troubles at the Virgin Islands Department of Justice, Jones said that while the governor may address the issue at a later date, tonight’s speech would solely focus on other matters facing the territory.

Jones said Mapp’s speech would include more than 8,000 words and last for about one hour and 10 minutes.

While on the campaign trail, then-candidate Mapp said he would create 1,000 jobs upon becoming governor. Those jobs, he said, would be government employment, with 250 new police officers being added to the force, 550 teachers, 75 correction officers, and 125 nurses, EMTs, revenue agents and other frontline-classified government employees, according to information posted on the official Mapp-Potter website.

The governor further explained his propositions in a video interview with VI Consortium last October, seen below.