Governor Mapp Is Out Of Territory On ‘Personal’ Time, Government House Says

Governor Kenneth Mapp on Wednesday left the U.S. Virgin Islands, but Government House would not say to where, only telling The Consortium that Mr. Mapp was taking “personal time off.”

It has been protocol to make public an itinerary when a USVI governor leaves the territory, even when it includes personal time — unless it is of national security risk. Government House did not disclose the governor’s departure and the change of leadership; The Consortium had to call Government House to find out.

While Mr. Mapp is out, as per the territory’s laws, Lieutenant Governor Osbert Potter will act as governor.

Mr. Mapp’s trip comes days after his announcement to raise the minimum wage and base pay of executive branch employees, which includes the government’s departments and agencies. It also comes after the governor signed off on the ratification of a landmark agreement that cleared the way for oil refining at the Limetree Bay facility, formerly HOVENSA, on the south shore of St. Croix.