Democratic, Albert Bryan Jr will take the oath of office and become the 9th elected Governor of the USVI and the new Lieutenant Governorwill be Tregenza A. Roach Esq. Photo: File/VI Consortium

(Left to right) Mr Kenneth E. Mapp and Mr Osbert E. Potter. Photo: File/VI Consortium

At about 10:30 AM today Monday, January 7, 2019, the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) will have a new Governor. Photo: Team of Reporters

Democrat, Albert Bryan Jr., will take the oath of office and become the 9th elected Governor of the American Territory after ousting—now one term—former Governor, Kenneth E. Mapp, an Independent.

The two men battled in a run-off election on November 20, 2018, where now Governor Bryan Jr, beat him comfortably with 11,796 votes to Mapp’s 9,766.

New Governor & Lieutenant for USVI

The new Lieutenant Governor is Tregenza A. Roach Esq, replacing Tortolian born Osbert E. Potter.

Mr Mapp is only the third incumbent Governor in USVI history to be defeated after their first term; the other Governors to experience a similar fate were Roy L. Schneider—who was roundly beaten by former Governor Charles W. Turnbull in 1998—and Melvin H. Evans in 1974.

With the slogan “Change Course Now”, calling on US Virgin Islanders to abandon the current administration’s style of governance for something different, the Bryan-Roach campaign was able to successfully capitalise on Mapp’s many self-inflicted wounds, much of which were caused by the Governor’s character and unbridled tongue, according to political pundits.

VI in the house

Meanwhile, the Virgin Islands (British) will be represented at the ceremony today by outgoing Premier, Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL).

It is unclear who else makes up the VI delegation as the Premier’s Office Spokeswomen, Bria A. Smith could not provide the information up to press time.