Dec. 17, 2001 – One of the trappings of the office of governor of the Virgin Islands is that its occupant gets to play Santa several key times of the year to the territory's government workers, and one of those times just happens to be the Christmas season. Gov. Charles W. Turnbull assumed the role Monday and delivered the goods.
He proclaimed administrative leave for non-essential government employees on the following schedule:
All islands:
– Monday, Dec. 24, all day (Christmas Eve day).
– Friday, Jan. 4, all day (Crucian Christmas Festival Children's Parade).
– Monday, Jan. 7, all day (Three Kings Day observed).
St. Croix only, for the Crucian Christmas Festival — all of the above, plus:
– Friday, Dec. 21, 1 – 5 p.m. (Food, Art and Craft Fair).
– Thursday; Jan. 3, all day (J'Ouvert).
In addition, the following are regular annual V.I. government holidays:
– Christmas Day — Tuesday, Dec. 25.
– New Year's Day — Tuesday, Jan. 1.
– The Crucian Christmas Festival Adults' Parade. However, the parade will be on Saturday, Jan. 4, this year, and an alternative workday will not be observed as a holiday.
– Three Kings Day — Jan. 6. However, that is a Sunday, and Monday, Jan. 7, will be observed as the holiday.
In a release, the governor said the festival, St. Croix's annual carnival celebration, "is a boost to our economy and helps to promote an understanding and appreciation of our culture."
The release stated that Turnbull had issued a memorandum to all government agency heads noting that the administrative leave granted does not apply to essential employees and that it's up to agency heads to determine who is essential and who is not. He also told the Finance commissioner to review all payrolls submitted for the time period "to ensure compliance with the proclamation."
