Former Gubernatorial Candidate Marise James has been tapped by Governor Albert Bryan as a Senior Policy Advisor, three veritable sources with knowledge of the appointment have confirmed to The Consortium. Photo: VI Consortium

The sources requested anonymity because they were not cleared to speak publicly about the appointment. Ms James, who ran during the 2018 primary election as a lieutenant governor candidate with Angel Dawson, is a respected and well-known figure on St. Croix.

Her lineage is also ubiquitous on the island. Her father is the late Randall ‘Doc’ James, whose mark on the Virgin Islands recalls dedicated service to the people. It is Mr James that the horse-racing track near the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport is named after.

Strong Lineage

And her brother is Neville James, the well-known former Senator who has served in multiple legislatures in a variety of capacities, most recent being Senate President in the 31st Legislature, and majority leader in the 32nd.

Ms James is also well accomplished; an attorney, her last position was a staff judge advocate of the Virgin Islands National Guard, one of the most revered positions in the National Guard.

Yet even with the credentials, she held the staff judge advocate position at the National Guard when it faced one of the most damaging scandals in its history.

A yearlong investigation by the National Guard Bureau (N.G.B.) which was still ongoing as of August 2017, found rampant sexual assault, harassment, assault, sexual intercourse for employment (quid pro quo) and fraud to be commonplace at the Virgin Islands National Guard for years.