Governor Mapp Taps Mona Barnes As Director Of VITEMA

Being in the military some 27 years, I am a disciplined person, people say no nonsense, but I just believe if we work hard, then we can play hard. I think what’s happening presently is, we’re playing hard and we’re not working hard. —  then gubernatorial candidate, Mona Barnes

Governor Kenneth Mapp has chosen the first female State Command Sergeant Major of the Virgin Islands National Guard and former gubernatorial candidate Mona L. Barnes as the Director of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA).

Mapp made the announcement Monday at a press conference held at Government House in St. Thomas.

During the 2014 gubernatorial campaign, Barnes told VI Consortium that if elected, she would be a leader who recognizes that her knowledge is limited, but that part of what she does well is the ability to bring people together.

“The type of leader I’m going to be is the one that recognizes that I don’t know everything; but the little that I know, I know well. One, I have vision and we come with a mission, and I have a way of getting people to work for the betterment of others. I gift myself with that,” Barnes said during VI Consortium’s Big Interview series.

Barnes added that she is a ‘no nonsense’ person, a trait developed after spending more than two decades in the military.

“Being in the military some 27 years, I am a disciplined person, people say no nonsense, but I just believe if we work hard, then we can play hard. I think what’s happening presently is, we’re playing hard and we’re not working hard. So I would tell you that I am a disciplinarian, but I like product and I like production — not only from human resource, but from any resource,” Barnes said.

Speaking of governance, then-gubernatorial candidate Barnes said some changes were needed to streamline government operations, and argued that the territory has people with the skill set to overhaul the system.

“There are some things in government that need to change, some things need to be automated — we have to do an overhaul of the way we do government. But I realize that it’s going to take more than Dr. Coram and myself to truly make a difference, and I believe that the subject matter experts that we need are right here. And if they’re not, then we are going to have to be honest enough and have people come from away,” she said.

The nominee will soon be sent to the Senate’s Rules and Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Kenneth Gittens, for approval.

If approved, Barnes’ nomination would move forward to the full Senate body for confirmation.