signed a bill into law last year<\/a><\/span> that increased the USVI\u2019s minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $9.50 beginning this month \u2013 with another increase scheduled for next year \u2013 bringing private sector salaries to a minimum of $10.50 per hour. It is estimated that 15,000 residents in the territory will directly benefit from the increase in pay. The governor is also responsible for raising the salaries of thousands of VI Government employees.<\/p>\n\u201cYou can\u2019t have people living in the margins,\u201d he said. \u201cYou have got to work to bring the quality of life of workers in the territory up.\u201d<\/p>\n
The governor explained the U.S. Virgin Islands\u2019 status as an unincorporated jurisdiction of the United States and highlighted the contributions of Virgin Islanders serving in the military, despite being unable to vote in Presidential elections.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are subject to the call of the president for conflicts,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have a robust enrollment of Virgin Islanders in the Armed Forces.\u201d<\/p>\n
The governor indicated that more than 40,000 Virgin Islanders live in the U.S. mainland and that Virgin Islanders have deep family ties throughout the 50 states.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost African Americans\u2019 ancestors who live on the mainland came through the Caribbean in the slave trade,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Mapp invited show panelists and viewers to visit the USVI and noted the nonstop flights to the USVI available from Washington, D.C., Houston and many other cities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just an exciting place to be,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are at a crossroads where our economy is growing. We are creating more opportunity for our people and we want them to get in business.\u201d<\/p>\n
The governor highlighted St. Croix\u2019s reputation as a destination for food lovers and said the big island was \u201cdriving our culinary industry\u201d with young black men playing a leading role as chefs and entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just an exciting time to be in the Virgin Islands,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Political status, the minimum wage, economic opportunities and St. Croix\u2019s burgeoning culinary scene were among the topics Governor Kenneth Mapp addressed during his live national television appearance Wednesday, according to a release issued by Government House on Wednesday. Mr. Mapp was a guest on host Roland Martin\u2019s morning show, News One Now, a one-hour weekday […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":53280,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11,854,2474,3680,147],"tags":[906,616],"yoast_head":"\n
Mapp Promotes Territory As 'Exciting' Destination On National TV With Roland Martin - V.I. 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