United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Attorney General, Claude Walker has resigned, The Consortium has learned. Photo: VI Consortium

In a chat with The Consortium on Friday, Mr Walker said he was “wrapping up” at the Department of Justice, but gave no indication that a resignation letter was forthcoming, or had already been submitted.

The resignation is not surprising; such is the norm during a change of administrations. Governor-elect Albert Bryan told The Consortium during an interview on the Virgin Islands Political Consortium, that current Mapp appointees who wish to resign could do so.

But the wait for the cabinet announcements from Mr Bryan’s transition team has frustrated some, and over the weekend a list said to be a legitimate document containing names of individuals on the incoming administration’s transition team—including former Governor John P. de Jongh—was leaked. The Bryan-Roach team has since disavowed the document.

Not accurate

“The information purporting to be a list of the members of the Bryan-Roach Transition Team is not accurate, and neither was it sanctioned by the leadership of the Bryan-Roach Transition Team. Information coming from sources other than the Transition’s Press Secretary or Co-Chairs is not official information,” the Bryan-Roach team said in a statement.

It added, “the leadership of the Bryan-Roach Transition Team fully understands the public’s interest and in keeping with our commitment to transparency, will provide the official list containing the individuals serving on the transition team shortly.”

“In the meantime, we ask that you continue to follow our social media pages and our website at bryanroachtransition.com for updates and official information on the transition.”

Mr Walker, who took strong stances against marijuana, will most notably be remembered for his role in arresting Mr. de Jongh on two counts of embezzlement of public monies and neglecting to pay over public monies in violation of Virgin Islands criminal code.

Mr. de Jongh eventually paid the government and was not charged.