ST. THOMAS — In May, Senate Democrats rejected 11 of Governor Kenneth Mapp’s cabinet nominees over a salary increase impasse, and after the governor slammed the 31st Legislature, contending that senators needed to treat their own people with more respect.
The first and second branches of government will go through the nomination process again, beginning with the Committee on Rules and Judiciary, chaired by Senator Kenneth Gittens, at the Earl B. Ottley Legislative Hall today at 12:15 p.m.
Nominees to be reconsidered are: Valdamier Collens Commissioner Dept. of Finance; Dawn Henry, Esq. Commissioner Dept. of Planning & Natural Resources; Carlos Robles Commissioner Dept. of Agriculture; Gustav James Commissioner Dept. of Public Works; Devin Carrington, Esq. Commissioner Dept. of Licensing & Consumer Affairs; Beverly Nicholson-Doty Commissioner Dept. of Tourism; Vivian-Ebbesen-Fludd Commissioner Dept. of Human Services; Nellon Bowry Director Office of Management & Budget; Eugene Farrell Director V.I. Fire Services; Milton Potter Director Division of Personnel; and Marvin Pickering Director Internal Revenue Bureau.
Senator Gittens said Friday’s agenda has been broken up into two separate blocks and the committee will first consider the re-nominations of the 11 rejected nominees. persons who had been previously tapped by the governor to head agencies and departments but were rejected.
According to Gittens, the nominees are obligated to be present at the hearing for possible questioning, but are not required to present any additional prepared written testimony.
“We are now going through an abbreviated process for these nominees being that we have already been through the vetting process and have weighed their qualifications and suitability for the positions they have been tapped for,” he said.
Gittens, a second-term Democrat, also revealed that the second block on the agenda will be the committee’s consideration of Richard Doumeng to serve as a member of the Virgin Islands Taxi Cab Commission. The agenda had previously included the consideration of the nomination of Dr. Phyllis Wallace to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Health, but that nomination has since been withdrawn at the request of the nominee.
“These nominees, if confirmed, have a lot of work to do. We should all be on the same track to improve the quality of life for our residents, but it will take collective work for us to make a difference. The first step is to head our agencies and improve services to our community,” Gittens concluded.
Tags: mapp nominees
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