April 19, 2001 – Supporters and detractors of Cecil Benjamin’s nomination for Labor commissioner are making themselves heard as the former labor leader goes before the Senate Rules Committee on Thursday.
The strongest approval comes from Luis "Tito" Morales, president of the Central Labor Council. Morales wrote to Rules Chairman Carlton Dowe saying that the CLC, which consists of the territory’s unions, unanimously supports Benjamin’s confirmation.
Morales said labor in the territory hasn’t been properly served by the Department of Labor for several years because of the agency’s previous leadership.
"Brother Benjamin has over 25 years experience in the area of labor relations and he can only enhance this institution for which he has the knowledge…" Morales wrote. "He can only become an asset to this administration and to the territory at large."
Before his nomination, Benjamin headed the St. Croix chapter of the American Federation of Teachers and was the chief negotiator for both the St. Croix and St. Thomas AFT.
But it is that leadership that is spurring Terrence Nelson to oppose Benjamin’s nomination. Nelson, a member of the AFT and president of the Our Virgin Islands Labor Union, which is not a part of the CLC, said Benjamin’s performance as president of the St. Croix AFT should be considered before confirmation.
As a an AFT building representative, Nelson attempted legal action to force Benjamin to open the books of the St. Croix AFT. Nelson also was critical of Benjamin’s efforts in negotiating contracts with the government.
"I question the integrity of the individual," Nelson said, adding that many AFT members have asked what they can do to "show some kind of protest" to the nomination.
Benjamin has been acting commissioner since February when Gov. Charles Turnbull picked him to replace John Sheen, who had been in charge since Sonia Jacobs Dow stepped down as commissioner in October.
Dow resigned amid criticism from employees within Labor as well as Sen. Roosevelt David, the 23rd Legislature’s chairman of the Labor and Veterans Affairs Committee. The department’s management of workers' compensation and other divisions has been under scrutiny because of complaints from customers as well as from Labor employees.
Dow also was criticized by Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, among others, for the department’s failure to monitor employment practices at the Virgin Islands Telephone Corp., now Innovative Telephone.
Benjamin has a Bachelor of Science degree from Inter-American University and a Masters in Education from Temple University. He was born in Guyana and is married to Ferryneisa Benjamin. The couple has two children.
