The Bryan-Roach Administration reveals its first class of the Government of Virgin Islands Financial Fellow Program of 2021

US Virgin Islands – In keeping with the promise of investing in the youth of the territory, the Bryan/Roach Administration has unveiled the first ever such program, the GVI Financial Fellowship Program was announced by Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. on Tuesday, flanked with the inaugural 12 participants of the program.

Governor Bryan has charged Office of Management Director, Jenifer O’Neal to oversee the program and its proper functionality. Bryan also referenced another program that his administration supported wholeheartedly. “This is positive impact. Next year we will see the first- class graduate from UVI that got the free tuition. This is a positive message to them saying we are preparing a place at the table for you,” Governor Bryan said.

There were 38 students, territory-wide that applied for entrance into the program. Unfortunately, only 12 students were selected for the first class of participants. The following participants will spend the next two years working in the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Finance, and the Office of Disaster Recovery, rotating on 6-month schedules to gain a well- rounded experience from all four departments. Each Fellow will be full-time employees with all the benefits of other GVI employees and be assigned mentors who are from various agencies within the GVI and will have to dedicate at least 8 hours per month to their mentees.

The twelve members chosen are: Acassia Ferguson, Roberto Tirado, Victoria Gario, Khaleila Krall, Harold Brown, Mahlayi DeFoe, Shani Isaac, Desiree Fleming, Malachi Peterson, Jamila Felix, Kahina Brannigan, and Lineek Williams.

Governor Bryan expressed, “we are building this economy step by step, person by person. Education, workforce development, housing – being able to put these things together to make sure young people have an opportunity to build lives in the Virgin Islands. It’s not being done in a haphazard way. It’s done in a very strategic way of organizing our infrastructure, involving our future and having them have input in what is to take place.”

The 12 selected Fellows are from various backgrounds and have college degrees received within the last three years. Each participant was provided a laptop and the tools necessary for them to be fully functional in their new roles. “The Fellow Program was conceived many months ago as a way to bring more young people into Public Service; giving them opportunities to learn and be paid while being trained,” Director O’Neal explained. “Because it has been so incredibly hard to recruit persons with both skills and the experience to fill vacancies within GVI, we ultimately see this program was the beginning of an initiative that is a win-win for both the individual Fellows and the Government of the Virgin Islands.”