The recent nomination of Rafael Jackson as Tourism commissioner has caused a Senate hearing on tourism scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday to be postponed.
"The decision was made in an effort to allow the new commissioner an opportunity to get acquainted with tourism issues," said Sen. David Jones, Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee chair.
The meeting had been scheduled before Gov. Charles W. Turnbull's announcement Friday of his new Tourism choice. The meeting will be rescheduled for a date after Jackson assumes office March 20. Jackson is relocating back to the territory from his home in Florida.
Jackson's appointment to the post, yet to be confirmed by the Legislature, will likely lend more interest to topics to be addressed, including the territory's offshore Tourism offices, the marketing of V.I. Carnival and other special events, geographic outreach and overall marketing of the territory this year.
The committee had extended invitations to Monique Sibilly-Hodge, acting commissioner, and Pamela Richards, assistant commissioner for the St. Croix district, to represent the Tourism Department at the hearing.
Also invited to testify were representatives of the hospitality industry on St. Thomas and St. John. The now-postponed hearing will follow a similar session held on St. Croix last December.
Others on the invitation list were Richard Doumeng, president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association; Beverly Nicholson, executive director of that association; John deJongh Jr., president of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce; Pam Alvord, supervisor with Ogilvie & Mather, the territory's new national advertising agency; Beverly Petrus, Tourism marketing director; Caswil Callender and Kenneth Blake, executive director and chair, respectively, of the V.I. Carnival Committee; Mabel Maduro, executive director of the V.I. Tourism Advancement Link; Kenneth Hermon, president of the V.I. Taxi Association; and Manny Centeno, director of the Film Promotion Office.
In a release from his office, Jones apologized for any inconvenience the cancellation may cause.
