Lt. Gov. Osbert Potter is in Rio de Janeiro watching Olympic events and attending the closing ceremonies, where he will march with the V.I. delegation of athletes, according to Government House.
“We need to support our athletes at all times, wherever they are," Potter said in a statement. “When they do good, we do good. The encouragement is always good for them, especially when they are out of the territory.”
According to Government House, Potter returns from Brazil on Tuesday, and then will turn around Thursday and head to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Summer Meeting in San Diego. The summer meeting will host insurance regulators from numerous states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories.
As lieutenant governor, Potter serves as the territory’s Insurance commissioner. Through the NAIC, state insurance regulators establish standards and best practices, conduct peer review, and coordinate their regulatory oversight.
During Potter’s absence, Senate President Neville James will serve as acting lieutenant governor. Potter will return to the territory from San Diego on Sep. 1.
Potter leaves not long after Gov. Kenneth Mapp’s return.
Mapp was out of the territory from Aug. 4 to 11, traveling to Washington, D.C., and New York. In D.C., he attended the National Association of Black Journalists Founders Reception at the National Museum of African American History and Culture on Aug. 5.
In New York, he visited the New York Police Academy and where V.I. police are training. According to Government House, Mapp is committed to continuing training and dedicating resources to crime fighting efforts in the Virgin Islands and officer training is a key aspect of these efforts.
Mapp also traveled from July 6 to 16, in part to attend the 50th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference and Bicentennial Celebration of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, where he was given a service award.
From July 6 to 9, both Mapp and Potter were out of the territory and Finance Commissioner Valdamier Collens served as acting governor. From July 5 to 9, Potter attended the National Lieutenant Governors Association 2016 Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
From May 31 to June 11, Mapp and a V.I. delegation traveled to China to explore and develop economic opportunities for the territory, according to Government House. During that trip he met with U.S. Ambassador to China Max Baucus and Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs Sarah Kemp, among others.
Mapp was also slated to meet with officials from Arclight, Sinopec, Fosum Group, Air China and China National Tourism Agency during visits to Beijing, Ningbo and Shanghai, according to Government House. On his return, Mapp submitted legislation appropriating $1 million for meetings with Chinese investors and work related to pursuing potential Chinese hotel investors. (See Related Links below)
Feb. 18 to 25, Mapp traveled to the National Governors Association’s Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
