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May 15, 2007 – Senator Neville James is calling on Governor John P. de Jongh to nominate persons to fill key executive branch commissionership's saying continuing to have these positions vacant are obstructing the operations of the Virgin Islands government.
"The de Jongh administration has been functioning for more than 100 days, yet critical appointments in the departments of Education, Finance, Health and the Office of Management and Budget have not been filled," said Senator James Monday. "These departments are vital to the operation of this government and it is shocking to me that the Governor has not yet identified qualified candidates to send for legislative approval."
Senator James noted that Gov. de Jongh was quoted in recent newspaper articles as saying he would submit the 2008 Budget by the May 30th deadline; however no Finance commissioner has been named to lead the government's financial team.
"There continues to be many questions about the true financial state of this government," Senator James said. "The voters expressed their confidence in the new administrations' pledge to be fiscally transparent and that cannot be done without a commissioner at the helm."
James continued by saying the departments of Education, Health and OMB also have their challenges and need to forge a new direction which can only be accomplished by strong leadership.
"The buck has to stop somewhere, and in government departments that is the commissioner's job. I am asking the governor to do what ever is necessary to fill these commissionerships so the business of running this government can proceed," concluded Senators Neville James
