U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — During the weekly briefing on Tuesday, April 11, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. announced two new nominees for positions in the Bryan-Roach Administration’s Cabinet – Attorney General Nominee Ariel M. Smith and Agriculture Commissioner Nominee Dr. Louis Petersen.
Ms. Smith is a veteran attorney with the Virgin Islands Department of Justice who currently serves as the chief of the department’s Civil Division. She also served as Assistant Territorial Public Defender and has worked as an associate at a local law firm.
Ms. Smith is filling the slot being vacated by Acting Attorney General Carol Thomas Jacobs, who currently is going through the nomination process for a seat on the bench of the Virgin Islands Superior Court.
Dr. Petersen is currently an Assistant Director at the University of the Virgin Islands’ School of Agriculture and a former Assistant Commissioner and Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture.
Dr. Petersen will replace Commissioner Positive Nelson, who is moving on to role in the Bryan-Roach Administration as a Special Policy Advisor to the Governor.
As Special Advisor to the Governor, Mr. Nelson will coordinate the interagency effort to implement the Territory’s Adult Use Cannabis Law and lead the public information and education surrounding the implementation of the act.
“The Bryan-Roach Administration has accomplished a lot toward moving this territory forward in the first four years of our term in office. We stabilized our government’s finances, restored the people’s trust through transparency, and made good on longstanding obligations to the people,” Governor Bryan said during his introduction of the two nominees. “We also made significant strides in our recovery and transformation. We are making tremendous progress towards the modernization of our public infrastructure.
“Today, as we mark day 100 of our administration’s second term, Tregenza and I, along with the members of my Cabinet, remain committed to continuing those efforts toward building stronger families, stronger infrastructure, and a stronger Virgin Islands,” the Governor said.
Judicial Nominations
Governor Bryan also announced Yvette Ross-Edwards as his nominee for a seat on the bench of the Virgin Islands Superior Court on St. Croix.
Ms. Ross-Edwards received her law degree from Albany School of Law and was barred in 1992 by the Virgin Islands Bar Association.
“She has had a very extensive and diverse legal career both publicly and in private practice. She is an active member of the community and will serve us well on the bench,” Governor Bryan said. “I am sure the Senate will arrive at the same conclusion and I look forward to her successful confirmation.”
The Governor had previously announced his nomination of Ms. Thomas Jacobs for the V.I. Superior Court on St. Thomas and the renomination of Judge Harold Willocks for another six-year term on the Superior Court bench on St. Croix.
Ms. Thomas Jacobs and Judge Willocks are currently set to go before the Legislature’s Rules and Judiciary Committee for a nomination hearing.
UberSoca J’ouvert
Thursday, April 13, the UberSoca Cruise, which is the largest soca festival at sea and is growing immensely in its popularity, docks in St. Thomas.
“As such, we are taking the opportunity to kick off the Carnival celebrations a little earlier than usual. The Department of Tourism has something very special in store for the cruises to make sure that this is not their last visit to our shores,” Governor Bryan said.
Tourism has an UberSoca J’ouvert planned and other soca-related activities starting at 2 p.m.
Because traffic patterns will be greatly affected in downtown Charlotte Amalie, the Governor will close all government offices and public schools in the St. Thomas-St. John District at noon on April 13.
Government employees in the St. Thomas-St. John District who are deemed non-essential by their supervisors for that day will be allowed a half-day of Administrative Leave.
“This is a great opportunity to showcase our islands and secure our position as the destination of choice in the Eastern Caribbean for UberSoca and other similar themed events. While we continue our efforts to diversify our economy, tourism is still the mainstay of our economic well-being, and we continue to invest in that industry,” Governor Bryan said.
Aliyah Boston, Michelle Smith
Governor Bryan also gave shout-outs to two USVI athletes for their amazing accomplishments in their sports.
St. Thomas native Aliyah Boston, who was an All American power forward for the University of South Carolina, was the No. 1 pick overall in the 2023 WNBA draft on Monday, April 10.
Aliyah was drafted by the Indiana Fever, closing an exceptional college career that included a national championship and many other awards and records. Indiana Fever management said she will be a cornerstone in the team’s rebuilding efforts.
St. Croix native Michelle Smith, who is a phenom in track and field at age 17, won two gold medals representing the U.S. Virgin Islands in the 2023 Carifta Games that took place April 9-10 in the Bahamas.
Michelle, who already has earned numerous medals in her track career, won a gold medal on Sunday in the Women’s Under 20 400-meter Hurdles and followed that with another win on Monday in the Women’s Under-20 800-meter race.
“These two young women and other Virgin Islanders are putting our Virgin Islands on the map in a big way. We may be small in size but certainly not small in potential and achievement,” Governor Bryan said. “Congratulations, Aliyah and Michelle, and everyone who has played a role in their successes thus far.”
The Bryan-Roach Administration is investing in the Territory’s people, infrastructure and future through transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. Visit transparency.vi.gov