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Governor John P. de Jongh,
Jr. used a Monday broadcast news conference at Government House, St. Thomas to present to the Virgin Islands his nominees to lead the Department of Health and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
Listen
to Governor de Jongh's Opening Remarks .mp3 (3MB)
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| Governor
John P. de Jongh, Jr. listens to a reporter's
question at a news conference where he announced his nominees to lead the Department of Health and the Virgin Islands Police
Department, November 7, 2011. Behind him are
Police Commissioner nominee Henry White, Jr.
and Health Commissioner nominee Dr. Mercedes Dullum. |
Listen
to Governor de Jongh introduce Dr. Dullum .mp3 (2MB)
Dr. Mercedes Dullum has been a well-known figure in the Virgin Islands medical community for more than a dozen years. Born and raised in Jamaica, she is a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon, and was named one of the top cardiac surgeons in Washington D.C., where she served as the managing director of a multi-physician, multi- million dollar practice.
Once she left her active surgical practice, she continued in the medical field, gaining valuable experience in healthcare administration as a senior official at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic.
Through her work at Cleveland Clinic, she has fought to reverse healthcare disparities here in the Virgin Islands and throughout the Caribbean. The telemedicine capability at our own Myrah Keating Clinic is but one example of her efforts. Furthermore, she is well-known and well-respected for her leadership in providing education and training opportunities to the V.I. medical community, and has always had a strong focus on quality of care.
Dr. Dullum will focus on addressing the major challenges and opportunities that exist in the Department of Health - ensuring quality, affordable care to those in the territory; continuing the overhaul of our Medicaid system, consistent with the President's health reform legislation; leveraging our federal grants to enhance the territory's public health delivery system; ensuring the department's full implementation of health "I-T" to facilitate coordinated patient care, communication between public and private providers, and enhance billing for DOH services; and continuing the important work we have begun with the Department of Human Services to enable greater service delivery to clients and beneficiaries of our social programs.
Listen
to Remarks by Dr. Dullum .mp3 (4MB)
Listen
to Governor de Jongh Introduce Mr. White .mp3 (1MB)
Henry White, Jr. comes to us with more than
30 years of Federal and Local law enforcement experience. From his eight
years as a Detective and State Investigator in East Orange, New Jersey to his
22 years as an FBI Special Agent, to his tenure as Chief of Police in McDonough, Georgia, Henry has gained the experience and management skills required to lead the VI Police Department at this critical time.
He started out as a street cop in urban New Jersey during the late 1960's, a difficult period in our country's history, and as a result he understands the very basics of street policing. He worked his way up the chain within the FBI, having worked on some of the most high profile federal task forces where the relationship between federal and local law enforcement was key to success.
The police commissioner nominee managed civil rights issues for the Bureau, which makes him acutely aware of the issues VIPD currently faces in relation to the Consent Decree. As a former Police Chief, through experience, he has gained a full understanding of managing budgets, human resources and union matters and has experience with the latest techniques and tactics in policing and law enforcement and the continued professional development of our police force. He is well poised to lead the Department in addressing the problems of gun crime and the associated challenges of interdiction, domestic and gang violence, and the other incidents of crime that confront the department daily.
Listen
to Remarks by Mr. White - Part 1.mp3 (3MB)
Listen
to Remarks by Mr. White - Part 2.mp3 (3MB)
Mr. White begins his tenure as Acting Police Commissioner today and Dr.
Dullum will begin her leadership at the Department of Health on December 1.
The governor noted that is the case with my entire cabinet,
his two nominees have the full support of my office.
Listen
to closing remarks by Governor de Jongh .mp3 (648KB)
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