After successfully completing the confirmation process of Tourism and Finance Commissioners Beverly Nicholson-Doty and Valdamier O. Collens, respectively, Sen. Kenneth Gittens, chairman of the Committee on Rules and Judiciary, announced Tuesday the process would continue with Education Commissioner-Nominee Dr. Sharon McCollum and Personnel Director-Nominee Milton Potter, on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 9 a.m., followed by Agriculture Commissioner-Nominee Carlos Robles and Fire Director-Nominee Eugene Farrell, on Friday, Feb. 20 at 9 a.m. Both sets of hearings will be held at the Earl B. Ottley Legislative Chambers on St. Thomas.
Gittens said his office has issued background research packages, which includes an ‘authorization for release of information form’ that allows the committee to receive holistic information about the nominees.
“My staff and I continue to review the packages as they are returned to ensure that the packages contains all the information requested,” the second-term senator said. “Some packages were returned for insufficient information. Besides the first 14 nominations, the governor recently nominated another two cabinet-level positions and we await their official notifications in order that we may commence their background checks and investigations.”
At a recent press conference, Governor Mapp announced Catherine Ann Hendry as the Department of Labor Commissioner-designee and Juan Figueroa, Sr. as the Director of V.I. Lottery.
The latest nominations will soon be forwarded to the 31st Legislature.
The committee also considered Lawrence Olive’s nomination for the position of Director of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles on Feb. 12. During the vote, however, a quorum could not be reached and with Gittens’ discretion, Olive’s nomination will be re-considered during the Feb. 19 committee meeting.
Committee members include Senators Kenneth Gittens, Jean Forde, Novelle Francis, Justin Harrigan, Neville James, Nereida Rivera-O’Reilly, and Janette Millin-Young.
For future confirmation hearings, Gittens said notices will be sent to the general public regarding the nominations of the Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner-Nominee, the Department of Human Services Commissioner-Nominee, the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation Commissioner-Nominee and the Director-Nominee for the Internal Revenue Bureau. These are all expected to be heard on St. Croix on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 25 and 26.
Tags: confirmation hearings virgin islands senate, us virgin islands government, usvi
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