Confirmation Hearings Continue For DLCA, BIR, SP&R And Police Commissioner

Now in its third week, the confirmation process for Mapp administration cabinet-level nominees has been scheduled to continue Feb. 25 and 26 at the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room on St. Croix.

On Wednesday, Feb. 25, beginning at 9 a.m., Commissioner-nominee for the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs Devin Carrington, and Director-nominee for the Bureau of Internal Revenue Marvin Pickering will come before the Committee on Rules & Judiciary, chaired by Sen. Kenneth Gittens, to give testimony and answer questions from senators.

On Thursday, Feb. 26, also beginning at 9 a.m., Pedro Cruz, commissioner-nominee for the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation, and Delroy Richards, commissioner-nominee for the Virgin Islands Police Department will appear before the committee.

“We are certainly making headway as we forge ahead with the confirmation process for these nominees,” Gittens said. “It is great to see the process moving seamlessly as we work towards creating a government that works to the betterment of the territory. The committee has so far reviewed seven nominees and have given a favorable recommendation to six of the nominees, which were forwarded to the full body for further consideration.”

Of the singular nomination that has been held in committee, Director-nominee of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Motor Vehicles Lawrence Olive, Gittens said it was “simply to perform more due diligence since there was pertinent information left off of the questionnaire that was initially submitted. All nominees are instructed to fully and correctly answer all questions on the questionnaire, and if this is not done then it may affect the process of the nominations.”

On Feb. 19, a lawsuit was filed against Olive citing defamation from the CEO of programming firm, BIZVI.

Nominees who have so far received committee approval are Finance Commissioner-nominee Valdamier Collens; Tourism Commissioner-nominee Beverly Nicholson-Doty; Education Commissioner-nominee Sharon McCollum; Division of Personnel Director-nominee Milton Potter; Agriculture Commissioner-nominee Carlos Robles and Fire Director-nominee Eugene Farrell.

Additional confirmation hearings are tentatively set to continue the second week in March.