Senate Finance Committee Chairwoman Lorraine Berry announced Monday morning that the 10 a.m. committee meeting to discuss the Tourism Revolving Fund has been postponed indefinitely because Tourism Commissioner Rafael "Rafie" Jackson is on leave.
Berry said she called Tourism this morning and was told Jackson was not available. Gov. Charles W. Turnbull confirmed that the commissioner was on leave and did not specify for how long, Berry said.
Turnbull last week submitted a bill to the Legislature that would remove the Tourism commissioner as the chairman of the Industrial Development Commission and the Virgin Islands Port Authority.
Jackson has asked for such a change, and it is speculated that the governor's move could ward off Jackson's resignation. The bill was on the agenda for Friday's special legislative session but was reassigned to the Government Operations Committee.
Removing the Tourism commissioner as chair of the two boards was also recommended in the Five Year Operating and Strategic Financial Plan.
Monday afternoon's Finance session is still slated for 2:30 p.m., she said, "barring something unforeseen happening. The governor could decide to postpone that meeting as well."
The afternoon meeting's agenda includes discussions on the office of the government's chief negotiator, the Government Employees Service Commission and the Insurance Board of Trustees.
