The Senate Committee on Rules and Judiciary moved favorably on two of Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.’s nominees Thursday.
Elizabeth Guadalupe-Perez’s nomination for the Real Estate Appraisers Board and Trinity Granger-Austrie’s nomination for the University of the Virgin Islands board of trustees now only need approval from the full Senate. If Thursday’s hearing was any indication of how the full body will act, neither nominee should expect any opposition. No committee member voiced hesitation or voted against them.
Guadalupe-Perez has been involved in appraiser work since 2006. She began working with Augustine Doward, a general real estate appraiser, while taking courses at UVI. After Doward’s death, she began working with Dunn Appraisal Service and received certification as a real estate appraiser.
She told the senators that the territory needed more appraisers, that the appraisers now working were “swamped with work.”
She said that as a board member, she would encourage more young people to take an interest in the profession.
She said she was a cancer survivor and was presently facing some health issues. Answering questions from committee Chair Sen. Carla Joseph, she testified that the health issues would not affect her performance on the board because the board would be a top priority. Joseph said that Bryan had nominated a “true soldier” when he nominated Guadalupe-Perez.
Guadalupe-Perez was born in Frederiksted and graduated from Central High School. She is an assistant pastor at La Iglesia de Dios in Estate Profit.
Granger-Austrie has had ties with UVI since graduating from high school, and she testified that her goal while on the board would be to encourage more students to take advantage of the opportunities UVI offers.
Sen. Avery Lewis concurred with her opinion, stating that UVI offered as good an education as universities in the States, and students could obtain it without the burden of student loans.
Granger-Austrie, who, in addition to attending UVI for three years, has taught there as an adjunct professor. She said she enjoys helping students navigate the educational process to achieve their goals.
Among the goals she listed were enhancing STEM programs. She has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering.
After graduation, she spent eight years at the Captain Morgan Distillery on St. Croix. She worked in an environmental management program and as the Site Environmental Specialist.
Following the 2017 hurricanes, she cofounded Tysam Tech to deliver engineering and environmental management services tailored to the needs of Caribbean-based industries, governments, and institutions.
“Today, Tysam Tech is the largest Virgin Islands-based environmental engineering firm, employing 25 full-time, locally based professionals – including engineers, scientists, technicians, and business strategists,” she testified.
“You are very impressive on paper and in person as well,” Joseph said.
Another goal she mentioned was to promote sustainability by leveraging her “background in environmental management to support sustainability initiatives at UVI, reducing campus resource consumption.”
Committee members Sens. Clifford Joseph, Avery Lewis, Angel Bolques Jr., Alma Francis Heyliger, Kenneth Gittens, Carla Joseph, and Milton Potter attended Thursday’s hearing.
