5th Government Minister To Be Named Soon
An announcement will be made sometime next week on who will be the fifth government Minister in the Virgin Islands Party administration, according to the Leader of the Party and Chief Minister the Honourable Ralph T. O'Neal.
The Virgin Islands Constitution was recently amended to include this and other provisions, following representation made to the United Kingdom government by the local government. "In everything you must take your time...I have to inform the Governor as to what the position is," the Chief Minister told The Island Sun on Monday. Up to Monday, the letter had not yet been drafted. In relation to the appointment of Private Secretaries to the current Ministers of Government, it has been announced that Ms. Beverly Hodge formerly of the Chief Minister's Office, has been assigned to Hon. Eileene Parsons of the Ministry of Health, Education and Welfare and former Acting Registrar of Lands Ms. Lorna Christopher to the Ministry of Communications and Works. The Private Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and Labour is yet to be named. Mr. David Penn was the first Private Secretary to be appointed under the new government initiative. He works directly with Chief Minister O'Neal. The fifth Minister, when named, will also have a Private Secretary.