Change Is Coming?!?
From what we are hearing, change is not only coming to Washington, DC, it is coming to the Virgin Islands as well.
Well placed sources tell us that the Governor is planning a major housecleaning to be announced in Monday’s State of the Territory Address. Among those whose heads are said to be on the block are:
Police Commissioner, James H. McCall; Labor Commissioner Albert Bryan (although we hear there may be something else in the works for him); Health Commissioner Vivian E. Fludd; Consumer Affairs Commissioner Kenrick E. Robinson; Property and Procurement Commissioner Lynn Millin; and St. Croix Administrator Pedro Pete Encarnacion.
If this is true, it leaves more questions than answers – what’s happening? Why now? Aren’t these the people who were hand picked to move our islands forward only 2 years ago? And who is in line to replace them?
What do you think?
Stay tuned.
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He should really replace Bryan, Millin and Encarnacion. They truly add no value to government as they have proven to be all talk and little action.
Millin is the chief procurement officer for the entire government. She is involved in complex contractual negotiations and has never passed her Bar exam. Instead, she can operate as a lawyer under an obscure VI law that allows this IF you are working for the Govt. Shouldn’t we require HIGHER standards if someone is representing us all and doling out multi-million dollar contracts???
We need serious, responsible leaders in these positions, not people who like to hear themselves talk or use their power to step on others.
On the other hand, deJongh’s own actions are clearly erasing all optimism once held by the remaining, competent Commissioners. What’s happening is that Johnny thought it a good idea to choose people and put them to work without any clearly defined plan as to what his administration’s priorities are. Good leaders share their ideas in writing and meet to gauge progress with their appointees.
Changing the goal line with multiple daily phone calls and calling the shots in the Commissioner’s departments from his chair at Govt House is frustrating, pointless and has vexed the crap out of his cabinet members. It seems that good the good ‘ole Governor trusts no one and is a punitive micro manager with a driving thirst for getting even.
Well-placed sources tell me that the tension in the air at cabinet meetings is stifling, with most Commissioners staying very quiet as they realize that their input is of no value and they have quietly lost all hope, confidence and respect in a man that they once truly admired.
They complain bitterly of a “rudderless ship” when describing the Gubbna’s approach to managing government affairs.
Other lackeys will replace the departing Commissioners in due time, only to suffer the same fate. Only this time, it will happen at the tail end of an administration and will most likely receive much more attention.
Nothing changes, folks…the VI will be just like this for evermore until righteousness, humility and the fear of God have their place in Government House.
I also understand that the Director Thomas of IRB will replace Eileen Petersen as Chairman of the Casino Commission.
What is the word about the Commissioner of Ed? The schools are in the worst shape ever!
I heard the Commissioner of Ed is AWOL. She took a vacation that is still going on long after her requested time. Word is she is being replaced by Liston Davis.
I think history will show that Turnbull did much more for education that DeJongh.
If you think the mismanagement is bad it it the corruption and lying from dewolf. Watch the tower issue on St. Thomas. Dewolf went to the association meeting and pretended he knew nothing about the tower by the police station being erected and the involvement with PWD when all the meetings to put up the tower for the 911 system were held at Government House with Louis Penn the chief of staff presiding. They dont want local Mr. Thomas who has a lease to get the tower because Gordon Ackley a dewolf fundraiser has a tower already erected and they dont want ATT to go on Thomas’ tower but on Ackley’s tower. That is why free ads are playing on AMG stations from the West End Alliance to stop Thomas from erecting his tower. It is called corporate greed and a culture of corruption, the type dewolf spoke about in the SOT speech. dewolf has a problem with the truth you know.
Hope you didn’t buy the story about the governor leaving the chain of office at government house because he wanted to set the right tone for his sober message.The french poodle spokesman said he didn’t want to have his neck “dripping with gold.” Only thing is the chain is gold plated and does not have much gold on it at all. The sober financial message did not prevent dewolf from having 700 guests at a reception at Denmark Hill afterwards where the price tag is clearly $20,000 and could go as high as $30,000 since they served lamb. The chain cost $1500 in 1969. If he wanted to send an austerity message he sould have cancelled the expensive reception.
The governor has chosen to live at home for various personal reasons. Now comes word that over $800,000 worth of improvements have taken place at his private home much of it from the treasury and his rich friends. PFA’s records are being closely guarded to prevent the extent of the raid of the treasury from being revealed. He also should pay taxes on the private contributions he received. He wont have Lolo Willis there now to rig his tax statements like he did in 2006 to prevent the public from finding out he did not file taxes for several years.
Notice how mum Generation Now is when it comes to discussing the governor’s performance. This organization gave the 27th Legislature a B+ rating although it did nothing to repeal Act 6905.This is the governor’s last year and I am not impressed with his administration. I thought that Commissioner Michael was an ice queen, but Commissioner Perry must be Carmen Santiago.What has this new Commissioner of Education accomplished? Why is Generation Now afraid to comment on the true state of the territory?
Can any confirm that Mr. Gov. continues on a rampage of appointing people? Since the hiring freeze was announced it is rumored that hundreds of appointments letters have been issued.
This is very disturbing. What was this whole talking during the campaign about transperancy?
Due to the rumors of changes in the cabinet, people were able to beg and convience the Gov. to keep their jobs. The Gov. will keep his under-proforming Commissioners in the names of gaining political milage.
It’s a shame that so many citizen has dedicated may years to the service of this government. Yet, the new Administration appoints political whores in positions above dedicated workers. If you think the Turnbull Administation was bad, Heaven help us all!!!!!
2010, we definately need a change we can believe in!!!!!!
I sincerely hope that the USA government skips over the Virgin Islands for any part of the stimulus package. These islands have been given many opportunities to work towards bettering the infrastructure and have not been able to do so for the past thirty years. There are no strategies in place in any agency, no real planning and no leadership that can move their staff towards wanting to make a difference for the people of the Virgin Islands. A very broken system with free wheeling employees. Most managers, directors and commissioners are working in a vacuum with no connection with their staff.No real regard for change. Why would you want to change anything if you can collect a paycheck without any real accountability. The Virgin Islands government agencies are All smoke and mirrors.
Maybe if the Lt. Gov. could stay out of the casino we would have more respect for him
I must agree with you Calypsojoe, many of our commissioners are in fact working in a vacuum without any connection with their staff…this is really ashame, they don’t even call monthly or weekly meetings. I work out of the LTD Gov office, and our own Raymond Williams don’t call staff meetings.
It is really true…the hoards of appointees by the Governor yet the Government has a hiring freeze. When does the madness stop?
Jauqueline..
It is so obvious why things do not get accomplished. Perfectly willing workers are not feeling part of the team to help move things forward. I have seen good employees just stop working, take extended leave,get sick suddenly or actually sabatoge the workplace or co-workers because they are so frustrated. The productivity is low in government jobs because there is little expected from the workforce and everyone covers for each other. If leaders are not constantly proactive with their workers everyone fails.
I don’t care who is elected the governor of the Virgin Islands, he or she will have a difficult time trying to get effective, fair, proactive leaders to work to change the sadly hardened and disgruntled workforce within the Virgin Islands government.
We can have an effective government if we stop voting our self interest, solely on personality good or bad, and be rational about where we want the Virgin Islands to be and who we think has developed the kind of plans that will get us where we need to be. If we did the abovementioned we would not be in this crisis that we are presently facing. It is going to get worse. We need to evaluate the candidates for Governor, Senators and Delegate to Congress in the 2010 election.