Although tradition – and V.I. Code – holds that the governor is to give the State of the Territory address on Jan. 8 after a new Legislature is sworn in, that won’t happen this year.
Instead, Gov. Charles Turnbull has asked the incoming 24th Legislature’s President Almando "Rocky" Liburd to delay the speech until Jan. 16, after he returns from an awards ceremony in Atlanta. According to a Government House release, Turnbull will be traveling to Atlanta on Jan. 8 to receive the ninth annual Trumpet Award from the Turner Broadcasting System.
While the Revised Organic Act calls for the governor to deliver the State of the Territory address at the annual opening of the Legislature, which will be sworn in at 10 a.m. Monday in ceremonies on St. Thomas, the law provides that another mutually agreeable date can be chosen if there is a conflict, according to Government House.
Meanwhile, the eight-year-old Trumpet Award was created by TBS to recognize individuals who "demonstrate total community involvement, global respect for all humanity and a strong commitment to diversity," the release said. "The award heralds the accomplishments of African-Americans and other men and women who have significantly enhanced the quality of life for all Americans."
Along with Turnbull, award recipients are former Massachusetts Senator Edward M. Brooke, former New York Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson and Colorado Lt. Gov. Joe Rogers.
This year’s Trumpet Award telecast will be on Feb. 24, and will be co-hosted by actress Diahann Carroll and actor Richard Roundtree. The 1999 award show was distributed to 185 countries and 35 U.S. Navy ships.
