Senate Fails To Override Mapp Veto On Bill Seeking To Limit Salaries Of Cabinet Members

ST. CROIX — Governor Kenneth Mapp in August vetoed section 9 of bill No. 31-0149, a amendment proposed by Senator Myron Jackson and supported by Democrats, that took away the pay raises Mapp gave to his then-cabinet nominees that were capped, after an agreement between the two branches of government, at $105,000, and set them to the amount each position was paid on December 31, 2014.

The amendment was added during a protracted session at the Earl B. Ottley Legislative Hall on July 30, where the Senate took action on a myriad of bills. Members of the body had contended that giving any pay raises at a time when the government was passing legislation to borrow monies in an attempt to keep itself afloat, was an ill-thought-out idea.

Mapp, however, disagreed.

“I don’t believe that this veto requires much discussion from me,” said the governor in a note accompanying his veto. “My position on the issue of salaries for my cabinet is a matter of public record.”

And at a legislative session at the Earl B. Ottley Legislative Hall on Tuesday, senators tried but failed to override the veto, which leaves the salaries capped at $105,000.

According to law, the Senate needs 10 affirmative votes for a successful override; but at yesterday’s session, only 8 voted in favor of the override.

The roll call went as follows:

Marvin Blydin: No (Blyden voted yes at the Wednesday, July 30th session)

Jean Forde: No (Forde voted yes at the Wednesday July 30th session)

Novelle Francis: Yes (consistent yes vote)

Kenneth Gittens: No (Gittens voted yes at the Wednesday, July 30th session)

Clifford Graham: No (Graham voted yes at the Wednesday, July 30th session)

Justin Harrigan, Sr.: Yes (consistent yes vote)

Myron Jackson: Yes (consistent yes vote)

Neville James: Yes (consistent yes vote)

Almando “Rocky” Liburd: No (consistent no vote)

Terrence “Positive” Nelson: No (consistent no vote)

Nereida “Nellie” O’Reilly: No (consistent no vote)

Tregenza Roach: Yes (consistent yes vote)

Sammuel Sanes: Yes (consistent yes vote)

Kurt Vialet: Yes (consistent yes vote)

Janet Millin Young: Yes (consistent yes vote)

The Senator also took action on an array of board and commission nominees, including the following:

• Juan Figueroa as director of the V.I. Lottery
• Pierina J.R. Feldman to chair the Public Employees Relations Board
• Laurel Hewitt-Sewer to the V.I. Port Authority Board of Governors
• Jose Penn to the Economic Development Authority
• Jerry Smith to the Board of Physical Therapy
• Vera Falu to the Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital governing board
• Dr. Laura Lee Bailey and Dr. Bethany Bradford to represent St. Croix on the Board of Veterinary Medicine