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January 23, 2007
Governor names Three Cabinet Members during State of the Territory Address Gov. John deJongh used his first state of the territory address on Monday night to make public his selections for three cabinet posts. Named to serve as Attorney General is Attorney Vincent Frazer, Albert Bryan, Jr. was announced as Labor Commissioner and attorney Jessica Gallivan as Chief Labor Negotiator for the Virgin Islands government. Frazer is a partner in the Law Offices of Frazer and Williams where he has practiced law 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 Port Authority, four years later he entered private practice. He has also held positions in the then Department of Law. A 1976 graduate of the 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 Third Circuit. Frazer has 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 1980’s. 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. Bryan, a graduate of St. Dunstan’s Episcopal School on St. Croix, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics which he obtained at Wittenberg University in 1989 and a Masters in Business from the University of the Virgin Islands. His employment history is varied having held positions at Hovensa, the VI Housing Authority and presently at Innovative Communication Corporation. At Hovensa, Bryan began his career as a Materials Analyst but over five years held various positions and was recognized on numerous occasions for his work. He later accepted a position in the VI Housing Authority in materials management as the Inventory Control Chief on St. Croix. During his years at VIHA, he led the consolidation and reorganization of the warehouses and streamlined various processes which reduced inventory losses significantly. He served as the Coordinator for the training program and chaired several task groups to improve services at the Housing Authority. In 2003, Bryan re-entered the private sector at Innovative Communications as a Management Trainee. He is currently the District Director for St. Croix and the Director of Business Offices in the Virgin Islands for Innovative Communications. Bryan is responsible for over 200 employees and seven departments. Bryan is also active in community affairs. He was selected by the Congressional Delegate to serve on the Black Caucus Convention. He has served on the Executive Board of the Young Democrats. In 2002, he co-founded Generation Now and has served as its Vice President. The organization has undertaken the mission of educating the public on key political issues, offering mentoring, performing community service and providing leadership seminars. Most recently, Bryan became a local TV and radio personality. He participates regularly on “Community Digest” on WSTX Radio and is a participant on the panel of TV 2’s “Talk Two” program and has provided election night coverage and commentary in both the general elections of 2004 and 2006. 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. Gallivan brings a wealth of experience to the position having served on both sides of the negotiating table as she has represented both organized labor and the government. 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 shaping a more efficiently run 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. De Jongh 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 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. |
