Swearing-in ceremonies were held Wednesday afternoon at the Territorial Court on St. Croix for three members of the Turnbull James administration.
Family, friends, co-workers and well-wishers filed into the courtroom to witness Labor Commissioner Sonia Jacobs-Dow, Fire Services Director Pedro Encarnacion and Deputy Police Chief Novelle Francis Jr. take the oath of office.
The oath was administered by the newly appointed presiding judge of the Territorial Court, Maria Cabret.
Encarnacion’s swearing-in had been delayed after he became ill last year and was hospitalized off-island for several months.
His cousin, Labor Commissioner Jacobs-Dow, opted to wait for Encarnacion so they could be sworn in together.
Deputy Chief Francis was recently appointed to his post after the governor approved a reorganization of the upper management structure of the Virgin Islands Police Department.
Newly appointed Territorial Chief of Police Jose Garcia, St. Thomas Deputy Chief Theodore Carty and Assistant Police Commissioner Bruce B. Hamlin are to be sworn in Tuesday at Government House on St. Thomas.
In brief remarks Dow noted her primary goal is to bring Labor to its "rightful place as the economic development agency that is was established to be."
Although saying he was mindful of the fiscal crisis confronting the government, Encarnacion called for financial support from the administration to ensure an adequate level of equipment and supplies for V.I. firefighters.
He paused for a moment to thank those who supported him during his illness.
Despite having served for three years as acting deputy chief and two years as acting chief, Novelle Francis admitted Wednesday that the task at hand is huge and the road is "long and rocky."
"It’s a road laden with fiscal restraint potholes, lack of manpower potholes and lack of equipment potholes," he said.
He called on the administration to give priority to the Police Department to accomplish and achieve its goals and mission.
Both Gov. Turnbull and Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II attended the mid-afternoon swearing-in proceedings.
