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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ADMINISTRATION PROPERLY APPLIED EXECUTIVE SUCCESSION LAW 
 
 
(July 15, 2015, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands) Governor Kenneth E. Mapp assured the 
Virgin Islands community today that the Administration has properly applied the Executive 
Succession plan provided by law, to ensure full protection of the community during his absence 
from the Territory.  This issue has been fully reviewed by the Acting Attorney General of the 
Virgin Islands and the Governor’s Chief Legal Counsel to ensure compliance with the law.  
 
The order of succession is set forth in the Revised Organic Act of 1954, which provides 
that in the event of the temporary absence of both the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor, “the 
powers of the Governor shall be exercised, as Acting Governor, by such person as the laws of the 
Virgin Islands may prescribe.”  See Rev. Org. Act of 1954 § 14 (e).  Consistent with that provision, 
the Virgin Islands Legislature enacted the Executive Succession Act of 1972, to fill the gap left 
open by our governing chapter.  
Pursuant to the Executive Succession Act, codified at Title 3, Section 29 of the Virgin Islands 
Code, during the absence of both the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor, “the person 
occupying the office” of the Commissioner of Finance must assume the powers of the office of the 
Governor.  See 3 V.I.C. § 29 (b).  Only where the Commissioner of Finance is not “physically 
present” in the Territory does the statute require resort to the other offices indicated, in the order 
listed. 
“The Virgin Islands statute is clear that succession is implemented based on who happens to 
be occupying the specific offices listed.  Nowhere does the statute condition implementation of the 
succession plan on whether the occupant of that office has completed the confirmation process,” 
Governor Mapp said.     
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