Two more Cabinet nominees were given the go-ahead Tuesday by the Senate Rules Committee.
Michael Bornn, acting Tourism commissioner, and Frandelle Gerard, acting director of the Industrial Development Commission, will next face the full Senate for confirmation.
Bornn repeated his need for a minimum of $20 million to begin to advertise the territory. He said $12 million should come from the Tourism Revolving Fund, $3.5 million from the General Fund, $2.5 million from a tax on time-share sales and the balance from a tax on automatic teller transactions and some portion of money earned on casino gambling.
Bornn also said the community has to have a change of mind on issues such as entitlement and service.
"Service doesn't cost us anything," he said. "If we improve our service, we can mitigate a less-than-perfect infrastructure."
He cited the lack of education and the attitude that the government owed everyone a job as standing in the way of fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in Virgin Islanders.
Bornn also said St. Croix has to be put "back on the map," adding that when people think of the Virgin Islands they think of St. Thomas.
Bornn got votes of approval from Sens. Gregory Bennerson, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, V. Anne Golden, Judy Gomez, Almando "Rocky" Liburd and Vargrave Richards. Sen. Adelbert M. "Bert" Bryan was there but didn't vote.
Gerard, if approved by the Senate, will take a position that may disappear if the governor's reorganization plan goes forward as presented. The plan would fold the IDC into an umbrella organization called the Economic Development Authority, which would also include the Government Development Bank and the Small Business Administration.
Acting director of IDC since April, Gerard suggested three areas of possible short-term growth for the territory: development of light, non-polluting manufacturing; relocation of a financial services company to the Virgin Islands; and development of high-tech industries.
Gerard was approved by Bennerson, Golden, Liburd and Richards. Donastorg and Gomez were absent for the vote and Bryan abstained.
