Senators were frustrated that VIPA Executive Director David Mapp did not appear for the Port Authority’s budget hearing Tuesday and voted to subpoena him to testify. Assistant Director Damian Cartwright appeared in Mapp’s stead. Mapp is on leave.
“As I had informed this body earlier in the year, the European-based cruise lines and the Ports of the Virgin Islands task force is scheduled to meet this week to explore new business opportunities for the USVI,” Mapp said in prepared testimony.
Mapp also recently announced his impending retirement, effective Jan. 31.
Several senators said they found it unacceptable the head of VIPA did not appear and said budget hearings happen the same time every year.
Voting to subpoena Mapp were: Sarauw, DeGraff, Tregenza Roach (D-STT), Brian Smith (D-At Large) and Kurt Violet (D-STX). Sens. Neville James (D-STX) and Nereida Rivera-O’Reilly (D-STX) were absent.
