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April 11, 2007
Darryl A. Smalls selected to lead Department of Public Works, Canegata-Thomas named as Director of Internal Revenue Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. Wednesday announced the appointment of Darryl A. Smalls as Public Works Commissioner and his selection of Gizette Canegata-Thomas as Director of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Smalls is a strong selection to head an agency such as Public Works, considering the broad-based and multifaceted responsibilities of the department. "Mr. Smalls brings to the job of Commissioner an engineering background that is so crucial to safeguarding the infrastructure of the territory. Additionally, his work at Schneider Regional and within the private sector adds a critical perspective to the need to ensure responsiveness," deJongh said. The governor noted an objective of the administration is the return of Public Works to a primary role in capital projects to ensure that there is coordination and accountability in one location. "Whatever changes have to be made to the system to achieve this objective will be done in a manner that is in the best interest of the community." Smalls has served over fifteen years in senior operations management, including project leadership in administrative, engineering, and electrical capacities at the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital and the Schneider Regional Medical Center in St. Thomas. For the past four years, Smalls has been Vice President of Facility Management and Capital Development at Schneider Regional Medical Center, where he presided over the construction, procurement, and financing of the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute. In addition, Smalls has held simultaneous responsibility for facility management, clinical engineering, and all capital projects and acquisitions for the Roy L. Schneider Hospital, totaling over $20 million in Capital Improvement Projects. Smalls holds Certificates of Achievement from the Emergency Management Institute at the Department of Homeland Security regarding National Incident Management Systems and National Response Plan, as well as from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction, Disaster Mental Health, and Mass Casualty Management. In addition, he holds a Certificate of Achievement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding Threat and Risk Assessment. Smalls also received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Smalls thanked deJongh for "his confidence in my abilities to head the department. Our task in managing federal and local funding, to start and maintain capital projects throughout the territory, whether preparing a new site for architectural design, or maintaining the administrative and operational components of a facility, are geared toward the rehabilitation and preservation of our territorial capital projects and infrastructure needs." Smalls also noted that he was "very humbled to have been this opportunity to serve. It is with great honor that I accept the nomination for the position of Commissioner of Public Works." Smalls is licensed as a certified Professional Engineer, Electrical Contractor, and Master Electrician and is a past president of the Alvin McBean East Little League. Canegata-Thomas comes to the position having served as the Bureau’s Acting Director since January 1, 2007. Prior to this year, Canegata-Thomas served for six years as Deputy Director of the Bureau on St. Croix. In that capacity, she oversaw office operations including management of employees. Canegata-Thomas has also held the position of Associate Counsel. Canegata Thomas also served as a Law Clerk in the then Territorial Court and as a Dislocated Worker Unit Coordinator in the Department of Labor. Her community involvement includes membership in the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Mu Gamma Omega Chapter on St. Croix. She is a member of the Virgin Islands Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association. Canegata-Thomas said she welcomes the opportunity to serve the people of the Virgin Islands in this capacity and looks forward to continuing to nurture a working relationship with the Treasury Department and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. "At the same time, I will ensure that the rights of taxpayers of the Virgin Islands are protected while making certain that all taxes due and owing to the territory’s treasury are collected in an efficient manner." Canegata Thomas is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center where she earned a J.D. in 1993. Three years earlier she graduated from Hampton University Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. She holds bar memberships in both the Virgin Islands and Pennsylvania. "The Bureau of Internal Revenue is at a critical point in its development, especially as the U.S. Treasury implements rules and regulations without our input and enforces procedures that are contrary to past practice. These are all actions that have a tremendous impact on the residents of this community," deJongh. The governor said he said believes Director Thomas has the skills and leadership to provide the credibility that is so crucial to the government’s relationship with Treasury, yet take a hard look at the Bureau’s operations and make the enhancements necessary to improve its functioning. Both nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the 27th Legislature. |
