Jan. 23, 2007 — Gov. John deJongh Jr. used his first state of the territory address on Monday night to make public his selections for three cabinet posts, according to a Government House release issued Tuesday.
DeJongh named attorney Vincent Frazer to serve as attorney general, while Albert Bryan Jr. was tapped as Labor commissioner and attorney Jessica Gallivan was named chief labor negotiator for the V.I. government.
According to a release issued Tuesday by Government House, "Frazer is a partner in the law offices of Frazer and Williams, where he has practiced since 1993. He has represented several government entities over the years and was managing partner of the firm from 1993-2005. Frazer’s career began in 1984 when he served as a staff attorney for the V.I. Port Authority; four years later he entered private practice.
A 1976 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School, Frazer earned a criminal justice and political science degree from Carthage College in Wisconsin and later a J.D. from Howard University School of Law. Frazer is admitted before the District Court and the V.I. Superior Court and is admitted before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.
Frazer has also been a member of the V.I. Bar Association for years and holds membership on a number of legal organizations. He was also a member of the board of the Government Employees Retirement System in the late 1980s.
Frazer is married to Ann E. McLeish and is the father of four daughters.
Labor Commissioner nominee Albert Bryan Jr. brings both public- and private-sector experience to the position.
A graduate of St. Dunstan’s Episcopal School on St. Croix, Bryan holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Wittenberg University in 1989 and an MBA from the University of the Virgin Islands.
His employment history is varied, having held positions at Hovensa, the V.I. Housing Authority and presently at Innovative Communications Corporation.
The eldest of four siblings, Albert is married to Yolanda Cabodevilla. Together they have two daughters, Alliyah and Sumayah.
Nominated to serve as chief labor negotiator is attorney Jessica Gallivan. who brings a wealth of experience to the position, having served on both sides of the negotiating table. Presently an associate attorney in the Law Offices of Michael Sanford, Gallivan is a former senior assistant attorney general. She also held other positions in private practice and the then Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands.
Gallivan said Tuesday she looks forward to helping improve the Collective Bargaining Unit, whose policies are set by the governor. She firmly believes that the government should honor all promises that are made at the bargaining table and should timely negotiate with the various unions. DeJongh pointed out in the State of the Territory address Monday that there exists at least 15 expired labor contracts. He promised that 'these will be promptly and fair negotiated, and no longer will we ignore the issue of retroactive pay.'
Gallivan holds both a bachelor's and master’s degree in business administration from the University of the Virgin Islands, and a J.D.
from Southern Methodist University School of Law. Gallivan is the mother of a daughter, Kari."
Back Talk
Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
