Plaskett Promises Transparency, Ethics and Change
M.A. Dworkin
USVI - It may not be a current American political tradition, but in decades past it was customary to give the incoming Administration the benefit of the doubt before grilling them ferociously on their decision-making abilities. When Stacey E. Plaskett was elected, on November 3, 2026, to a landslide victory in the USVI Governor’s race, she became the first black woman Governor in not only the USVI, but in the 50 States of the U.S.
One would think that this amazing accomplishment would give the media pause to withdraw their swords for at least a “honeymoon” period of time and respect the decision of the constituency that elected Congresswoman Plaskett, and believe that she was elected because she was not only the right person for the job, but that the voters who elected her believed she was a person of integrity and righteous thought.
And yet the rampaging media, apparently hungry to prove their chops as insightful, investigative journalists, have questioned her in an inordinate manner, refusing to give the Governor-Elect the benefit of the doubt on her decision of appointing her Chief of Staff, a voluntary position, to her transition team. The media has indeed jumped all over Governor-Elect Plaskett, as if she was trying to pull a fast one, even before the first day she takes office.
But when you hide things in plain sight, it is not exactly hiding them.
“The transition team reviews policy and determines how the objectives we have laid down will be carried out, “ Governor-Elect Plaskett calmly explained at her first post-election press conference. “Everyone who is on the transition team is doing so in a voluntary capacity.”
The Governor-Elect went on to explain that the positions on her transition team were by no means automatically carried over into the same positions upon her inauguration.
“On the day of our inauguration, we will be sending down legislation on ethics which will involve mandatory training, and financial disclosure for senior individuals,” said Congresswoman Plaskett, who spoke of some of her important early objectives. “We will be moving the white collar division at the Justice Department to be an independent entity, and asking for legislation for the Attorney General to not only be hired with the advice and consent of the Senate, but also fired with only the advice and consent of the Senate.”
Such a monumental move in itself, if enacted into law, will likely result in a less politically-compromised office, one that does not exist within the political climate that is currently imposed upon the sanctity of the VI Attorney General’s office.
“I think there are real tangible things that we want to do for people, and to allay their fears and distrust, that I know are rightly there,” she stated. “I recognize that our people have reason to distrust. And that’s one of the reasons we have been open and transparent about what we are doing by sharing our platform on our transition website the day after the election.”
The Congresswoman went on to add: “We are going to be opening offices on all three islands to get people’s ideas and thoughts.”
