Nomination Of Marvin Forbes To Port Authority Board Held In Committee

ST. CROIX — The nomination of ardent Mapp supporter Marvin Forbes, above, to the Virgin Islands Port Authority’s Board of Trustees for the district of St. Croix, was held in the Committee on Rules and Judiciary after Mr. Forbes failed to convince lawmakers that he was ready for the position.

Mr. Forbes is a staunch supporter of the governor and has defended the territory’s leader’s actions and decisions on social forums and talk radio, among other venues. He is also the president of the VI Action Group, a watchdog organization that says its goal is to ensure fair elections in the territory.

But Mr. Forbes, who has been engaged in a multitude of political discussions and is well aware of the process, failed to impress legislators at the Fritz E. Lawaetz Legislative Hall on Tuesday, most of whom appreciated Mr. Forbes’ passion to serve, but were discouraged by his lack of experience and knowledge of matters relating to the territory’s ports.

“For me, I expected a home run because you have had that opportunity to do your homework. You have had an opportunity to truly scrutinize each and every one of us in your work and to hold us accountable,” Senator Novelle Francis said.

Mr. Forbes revealed that he currently owes real property taxes and has entered into a payment plan with the Bureau of Internal Revenue. He owes money to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs, and is under a payment plan with the government agency as well. And the trademark name for Mr. Forbes business, Orbitron Earth Stations, was revealed to be not in good standing; as he hadn’t renewed in the two-year window required by law.

But those were trivial matters to lawmakers, who seemed more disappointed in Mr. Forbes’ inability to give satisfactory answers to their questions.

A motion by Mr. Francis to hold Mr. Forbes’ nomination until the call of the chair was supported by all committee members present at yesterday’s hearing. Senator Neville James was absent.