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ST. THOMAS — Members of the 33rd Legislature, which includes mostly new lawmakers, on Monday took the oath of office at the David Monsanto Bandstand in the Emancipation Garden in downtown Charlotte Amalie. The event marked the new lawmakers’ first official day as senators, and commences a tenure that will last for two years.

Members who make up the 33rd Legislature include Senators Kenneth L. Gittens, Myron D. Jackson, Allison DeGazon, Alicia V. Barnes, Javan James, Donna Frett-Gregory, Janelle Sarauw, Athneil “Bobby” Thomas, Marvin A. Blyden, Dwayne DeGraff, Stedman Hodge, Steven Payne, Sr., Kurt Vialet, Alicia Barnes, Novelle Francis, and Oakland Benta.

Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fawkes performed the reading and certification of the presentation of senators. Shortly after, the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands Chief Justice Rhys Hodge conducted the administration of the oath of office.

In a release issued this afternoon, Governor Albert Bryan congratulated the new lawmakers, and said he looked forward to working with the senators for positive change in the territory.

“For the second time in as many weeks, our community is celebrating the promise and the hope of a brighter and better future. Congratulations to the members of the Thirty-third Legislature of the Virgin Islands of the United States on taking their oaths of office,” the governor said. “As this Legislature and the Bryan-Roach Administration begin our work, we have an opportunity, as we serve two co-equal branches of our government, to work together in setting the course for a brighter Virgin Islands for us all.”

He added, “While the challenges that lie ahead are significant, I am confident in the ability of this body and that of our administration in making a positive impact and thank the members of the Thirty-Second Legislature for their diligence and their service to the people of the territory.

“I look forward to working with each of you toward improving the delivery of services to the people. I wish you all well in your endeavors these next two years and hope that together we can again make our beloved Virgin Islands a place where every Virgin Islander is proud to call home.”

According to a release the 33rd Legislature issued today, the officers and members of the Majority Caucus are as follows: Mr. Gittens is the Senate president; Mrs. Frett-Gregory is the vice-president; Ms. Barnes is the secretary; Mr. Blyden is the Majority leader; Mr. Benta is the liaison to U.S. Dept. of Interior/Insular Affairs; Ms. DeGazon is the St. Croix District Liaison to the U.S. Congress; Mr. Hodge Jr. is the Liaison to the White House; and Mr. Thomas is the secretary for Intergovernmental & Territorial Affairs. Mr. Jackson, Mr. James, and Mr. Payne are also members of the Majority. The officers of the Minority Caucus are Ms. Sarauw, Mr. Francis, Mr. Vialet and Mr. DeGraff.

Additional aspects of the oath of office ceremony included the conch shell call, processional march, posting of colors, an invocation, the national anthem, Virgin Islands anthem, the Black National anthem, musical selections, the retiring of colors, the benediction and the recessional march, according to the 33rd Legislature’s release.

Upon completion of the ceremony, policymakers proceeded to the Capitol Building for the organization of the 33rd Legislature, in which Mr. Jackson, the temporary presiding officer, officially ended his term as president of the 32nd Legislature and Mr. Gittens, Senate president of the 33rd Legislature, convened in the 33rd’s first legislative session.