Governor Kenneth Mapp has advised\u00a0Commissioners and agency heads to grant Administrative Leave to St. John non-essential employees working in the Government of the Virgin Islands, so they can participate in and enjoy the inaugural ceremonies on Wednesday, Jan. 7.<\/p>\n
Mapp authorized the leave citing VI Code,\u00a0amended, and Title 1, Chapter 11, section 171.<\/p>\n
“Once every four years we inaugurate a new incoming Governor. Administrative Leave for government employees has already been granted for the inaugural ceremonies held on the island of St. Thomas on Monday January 5, 2015. The inaugural ceremonies to be held on the island of St. Croix on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 are occurring on a legal holiday. Therefore, the granting of administrative leave is not necessary,” the governor said.<\/p>\n
He added: “The inaugural ceremonies on the island of St. John will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2015. Therefore, it is fitting and appropriate to grant administrative leave to government employees on St. John to encourage participation in such inaugural celebrations.”<\/p>\n
The administrative leave begins at 8 a.m. and runs through 5 p.m. The administration also pointed out that the leave “shall not apply to essential employees and employees on a regular or rotating shift,” and added that employees on annual or sick leave immediately preceding or immediately following the time period when administrative leave is granted, will not be eligible for Wednesday’s administrative leave.<\/p>\n
The Mapp administrative was keen to clarify those who qualified for the leave as “non essential employees who are residents of St. John assigned and working on the island of St. Thomas and all non essential employees assigned and working on the island of St. John.”<\/p>\n