Sept. 2, 2008 — Gov. John deJongh Jr. has tapped St. Thomas businessman Rhudel George to fill one of four open slots on the Public Finance Authority's board of directors.
"Rhudel George's business acumen and his professional experience will bring added expertise to the PFA board," deJongh wrote Tuesday in a letter sent along with the nomination to Senate President Usie R. Richards. "As chairman of the board of the PFA, I look forward to his advice and good counsel as the Public Finance Authority continues to meet its mandate in funding capital projects across the territory. The work of the PFA is vital to further developing and modernizing our infrastructure."
In April senators passed an amendment increasing the number of private citizens appointed to the PFA board from two to four — two residents each from the St. Thomas-St. John and St. Croix districts. Two of the slots were taken up by Roy D. Jackson (representing St. Thomas-St. John) and Paul Arnold (representing St. Croix), both of whom are no longer on the board, according to Government House spokesman Jean Greaux.
George will fill one of the two open slots on the St. Thomas-St. John side, Greaux added.
A graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School, George holds a bachelor's degree from the University of the Virgin Islands. He has an extensive career in both the public and private sector, but he is best known for heading the Small Business Development Agency in the 1990s, according to a Government House news release. George has also taught at UVI, CAHS and at the Continuing Adult Education Program.
Sitting on government boards is also nothing new for George, who has served as chairman of the V.I. Port Authority board and as a member of the Public Employees Relations Board, Board of Land Use Appeals and the V.I. Small Business Development Agency Board. He currently serves on the U.S. Small Business Administration Advisory Council for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
George is also president of the Association of Concerned Native Virgin Islanders, a community-based organization that awards scholarships to high school students planning to attend UVI.
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