Feb. 12, 2007 — Gov. John deJongh Jr. has nominated two members to the V.I. Port Authority Governing Board, Hector Peguero and Gordon Finch.
The governor renominated Peguero, a St. Croix businessman, and selected Finch, a former executive director of the VIPA, according to a news release from the governor's office. If confirmed by the 27th Legislature, Finch and Peguero will serve three-year terms.
Peguero has served as President of Suntech Group since 1989. Suntech is the parent company of St. Thomas Gas and St. Croix Gas companies. Peguero has managed the two-island operations of the company, which develops and sells propane gas to both domestic and commercial markets, the news release said.
Finch, also a St. Croix resident, brings significant experience to the VIPA board, having served as the agency’s executive director for 11 years, from September
1991 to December 2002. He would replace James Rodgers, whose term on the board has expired. A former Public Works commissioner, Finch works as a mechanical engineer.
In his State of the Territory address three weeks ago, deJongh said he "would be naming new members to the VIPA board, all of whom would understand their broad obligations and will be prepared to make tough decisions."
The Port Authority has some tremendous challenges over the next several years in terms of both personnel and in the competitive positioning of the territory, deJongh said: "We must rebuild cruise traffic to St. Croix, improve the utilization of the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, improve the efficiencies in marine activity to St. John and rationalize the cruise activity in the Charlotte Amalie harbor."
To do so, DeJongh said, the board must establish policies that recognize the uniqueness of each market, as well as the shared objectives of moving the territory forward, according to the news release.
"Mr. Peguero, as an active member of the board over the years, understands what needs to be done and brings the experience," deJongh said, according to the news release. "Mr. Finch has the unique perspective of having been part of the Port Authority’s executive staff and understands the relationship between policy and management implementation."
The Finch and Peguero nominations, which are subject to the advice and consent process of the 27th Legislature, were formally forwarded to Senate President Usie Richards at the end of last week.
