More Mapp Nominees Face Rules Committee Today

ST. CROIX — Senator Kenneth L. Gittens, chairman of the Committee on Rules and the Judiciary, said in a press release issued on Friday that the Committee is preparing to hold two hearings this week as the confirmation process of those individuals nominated to serve in cabinet-level positions and on government boards and commissions.

Gittens said the first upcoming hearing will be today at 9:30 a.m. in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room on St. Croix. The hearing will be held to consider of the Kenneth Mapp nominations of Cedric Armstrong to serve as a member of the V.I. Taxi Cab Commission; Randolph Bennett, to serve as the Commissioner of the Department of Property and Procurement and Deborah Howell, to serve as Adjutant General of the Virgin Islands National Guard.

“It has already been more than six months since the administration and this body have been sworn in to office and as the governor continues to seek out skilled and competent individuals to fill these very important positions in our government, the Committee on Rules and Judiciary will continue to thoroughly vet these individuals and forward the
nominations to the full body for further consideration,” Senator Gittens said.  According to Senator Gittens, another committee hearing is scheduled for the committee on Friday on St. Thomas, but the revised agenda has not yet been completed.

Among the things expected to be on the agenda for consideration are the renominations of the 11 individuals previously nominated by Governor Mapp to serve in various cabinet-level positions, but were rejected by the full body when a vote was held in May.

“The process will continue as we work collectively to build this government. We have another hearing coming up shortly and our final agenda for that will be coming out in the next few days,” Senator Gittens concluded.

Feature Image: From L2R: Nominees Deborah Howell and Randolph Bennett.