April 16, 2007 — On Monday, Gov. John deJongh Jr. announced the appointment of five individuals to the boards of various organizations, according to a Government House news release.
Mulchand “Mulo” Alwani has been appointed to the St. Thomas-St. John board of directors of the V.I. Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation, Brenda Benjamin to the Water and Power Authority governing board, Glenn Dratte to the board of directors of the V.I. Public Television System, Jennifer Nugent-Hill to the University of the Virgin Islands board of trustees and Cassan Pancham to the Port Authority board of governors.
Alwani was born in Damascus, Syria, but moved to St. Thomas in 1977 and opened Artistic Jewelers, where he remained the president of that company until 2003. Alwani was also the director of the St. Thomas/St. John Chamber of Commerce, president of the India Association, director of Partners for Health, master of the Harmonic Lodge #356 EC and the director of the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands. He was also previously awarded the STT/STJ Chamber of Commerce community service award. Mulo has been married to his wife, Sarla, for the past 43 years. Together they have two children: Papita and Vinod, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.
Benjamin received her bachelor’s of science degree in business administration/marketing in 1991. Since then she has founded and managed a number of businesses throughout the territory. Currently, she manages Centerline Cash and Carry, where she is responsible for maintaining the store’s financing, inventory and its employees. Benjamin’s appointment will replace WAPA board member Yolander Samuel-Deterville.
Dratte has worked in the communications industry for the last 15 years. Currently he serves as operations manager for WSVI-ABC TV 8, and his responsibilities include overseeing the daily operations of the station from personnel to on-air programming and producing the WSVI compliance-license renewal. If confirmed for the four-year period, Dratte will replace Eustace Brown, whose term already expired.
Nugent-Hill received her bachelor’s degree in social welfare sciences in 1979 from the then-College of the Virgin Islands. She is a product of the V.I. public education system and proudly attributes all of her successes to her teachers at St. Croix Central High School, who told her she could do anything a determined Virgin Islands young lady wanted to do. Nugent-Hill is currently the corporate assistant vice president for government and public affairs for Tropical Shipping. She is also involved in several organizations in and out of the territory.
Pancham, nominated to the VIPA Governing Board, will replace Leslie Milliner. Pancham has worked in the banking industry for the last 27 years. He is currently the executive vice president/Eastern Caribbean region executive of First Bank Puerto Rico. He is also the president and director of First Insurance Agency, along with First Express. Pancham has held various leadership roles in a number of community organizations. He was the president of the U.S. Virgin Islands Bankers Association, president of the STT/STJ Chamber of Commerce, a treasurer and founding member of the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity and a past member of the USVI Governor’s Committee for Economic Development and Strategy.
DeJongh thanked the individuals for their willingness to serve on the respective boards and provide their expertise to the community. “Each of these boards has a tremendous impact on our community, and composition of their membership determines whether the leadership and willingness to make the best and hard decisions will be made," deJongh said. "I am extremely comfortable that these individuals bring the talent and personal strength required to do just what is necessary.”
All nominations to the boards and commissions must be confirmed by the 27th Legislature.
DeJongh also appointed Kinila Callendar as public information officer in the governor's office. Callendar has worked in the journalism field for the last four years. As a former news reporter for local television station TV 2, Callendar researched, filmed, wrote, edited and reported on national and local issues for their nightly “News 2” newscast. She also produced, directed and anchored the newscast on a fill-in basis. Callendar received her bachelor’s degree in humanities/journalism in 2003. Prior to her employment at TV2, Callendar interned at a number of news organizations within the territory. They include WTJX-Channel 12 and WGOD, where she prepared and anchored their daily news broadcast.
