Gov. Charles Turnbull announced Friday the nominations of five people to the V.I. Public Service Commission.
The board has been steeped in controversy since last year when Georgetown Consulting Inc. – an independent consulting firm – recommended a rate decrease for the Virgin Islands Telephone Corp. but the PSC dismissed the recommendation. The ensuing controversy resulted in the PSC's legal counsel, Maria Tankenson Hodge resigning.
Lorna Thomas has been chosen by Turnbull to replace PSC chairman Walter Challenger, whose term has expired. Thomas is a financial consultant and was a special assistant in the Farrelly administration. She is a 1987 Princeton University graduate.
Shawn-Michael Malone, the St. Thomas office manager for Delegate Donna Christian-Christensen and member of the St. Thomas-St. John Board of Elections, has been nominated to succeed Dora Hill, whose term has expired. Malone is a 1991 graduate of Hampton University.
St. Croix resident Evelyn James, executive director of Our Town Frederiksted, is nominated to take the place of Patrick Williams. Williams’ term ends on March 1. James is a retired senior health plan developer in the Department of Health and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Pace University in New York City.
Crucian Valencio Jackson has been pegged to fill a vacant PSC board slot. Jackson holds a BA in accounting from the University of the Virgin Islands and owns Jackson’s Business Services on St. Croix.
Attorney Desmond Maynard, meanwhile, has been reappointed to the PSC. Maynard is the principle owner of his own law firm. He is a Georgetown University Law School graduate and a former deputy assistant attorney general in the former V.I. Department of Law.
If approved by the Senate, all the nominees will serve three year terms.
Following the consultant's recommendation for a rate hearing, Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg called for Senate session focusing on the PSC. The hearing was held last June, but despite Georgetown's report that a rate decrease was due to Vitelco customers, there has been no further action by the PSC.
"I am satisfied that the diverse and talented persons I have nominated have the professional and educational background to properly represent the vital interest of the people of this territory on this very important commission," Turnbull said.
