Nominees Have Big Plans for Schools, Hospitals

On Thursday, the Rules and Judiciary Committee moved Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.’s nominees for a hospital board and a vocational education board to the whole body with favorable recommendations.

Safiya George, the Government Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation, District Governing Board nominee, will serve the St. Thomas-St. John district if she gets final approval. Anthony Mardenborough, the Board of Career and Technical Education nominee, would serve the St. Croix district. The senators thanked both for their willingness to serve.

“As president of the University of the Virgin Islands,” George told the senators, “I have dedicated my career to courageous caring leadership, research, and transformational health care. I believe that strong, strategic leadership and collaboration are essential to improving health care access, quality, and sustainability in our community.”

Sen. Ray Fonseca said George had “impeccable qualifications,” and he would vote for her. Then, he asked about the proposed medical school for the territory. She said a classroom building had been dedicated to the school. Still, the territory was far from the $20 million in endowment funds it would need to even consider medical school certification.