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Friday, March 29, 2024
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SENATORS APPROVE 11 NOMINATIONS

After much comment and debate, the Legislature on Tuesday approved nominations of 11 appointees to three different government boards, a new deputy inspector general and two new commission members.
The full Senate was in attendance with the exception of Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, who was at a court hearing in St. Croix on the Beal land swap.
Susan I. Andrews was appointed deputy inspector general, serving under Inspector General Steven van Beverhoudt, who attended the session. Her nomination was approved by 13 senators, with one negative vote cast by Sen. Adelbert "Bert" Bryan, who objected to Andrews' appointment because she is not a native Virgin Islander.
Lloyd McAlpin was approved to serve on the Casino Control Commission, with one negative vote from Bryan because McAlpin already is employed as assistant executive director of the Legislature.
Bryan said a younger person should have the job, to which McAlpin replied that he wasn't planning to retire at this point in his career.
"I still have five good years left in me," he said, laughing.
Appointed to the V. I. Water and Power Authority Board were attorney G. Luz A. James and Alphonso Franklin. Bryan and Sen. Roosevelt David opposed James. Sens. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, Judy Gomez, George Goodwin and Bryan opposed Franklin, with Sen. Donald "Ducks" Cole abstaining.
The senators used most of the time allotted for the WAPA board members to vent their feelings about the proposed sale of WAPA to Southern Energy Inc. The senators are not only against the sale, but they also complained about the secrecy surrounding the proposal.
Donastorg also used this time to introduce a special order requesting an investigation of the Public Services Commission's refusal to investigate the V.I. Telephone Corp.'s rates. He mentioned his many frustrating attempts to get this accomplished.
None of the other senators appeared to be interested in Donastorg's request.
Maria M. Hennemann, Gloria G.Bell, Godfrey G. Fredericks Jr., Frances M. Molloy and the Rev. Lester A. White were appointed to the V.I. Hospital and Health Facilities Governing Board of St. Croix. The only negative vote came from Cole against White.
Appointed to the V.I. Hospital and Health Facilities Governing Board of St. Thomas/St. John were Natalie A. Thomas, Samuel Winston Topp, Beverly Chongasing and Horace Brooks. Bryan opposed Topp and Chongasing. Brooks was opposed by Sens. Allie-Allison Petrus, Gregory Bennerson and Bryan. Since Brooks is a confidential assistant to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, they questioned whether that presented a conflict of interest.
Keithly Joseph was appointed Public Services Commission director, with one no vote by Bryan, an item not listed on the day's official agenda.

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