Mr. David DaCosta Archer, Jr. was sworn in as the Deputy Governor of the Virgin Islands on Thursday, March 1 at a ceremony held at Government House.

The Oath of Allegiance, the Oath for Due Execution of Office  and the Oath of Secrecy and Security were administered to Mr Archer by Senior Resident High Court Judge, Her Ladyship the Honourable Madam Justice Vicki Ann Ellis in the presence of His Excellency the Governor Augustus Jaspert.

Senior government officials, friends and family were on hand to witness the occasion, including Mr. Archer’s 92 year old grandmother, Mrs. Esmie Stoutt.

Governor Jaspert in his congratulatory remarks said, “I have full confidence that Mr. Archer will not just deliver but will exceed and will grow and develop in the role.”

The Governor described Mr. Archer as one of the most educated, engaging, and inspiring people he has ever met adding, ‘he brings vision and energy to this demanding role”.

His Excellency shared that the occasion marked a transition in leadership for one of the most important public sector roles in the Territory and that it is neither an easy job nor a role that is appointed to lightly. 

“It demands the highest levels of leadership, integrity, strategic thinking, problem solving skills, and an immense personal resilience to cope, not just with a demanding workload, but also the pressure arising from being a public figure under regular scrutiny”. 

The Governor outlined that Mr. Archer will fulfil key priorities including an ambitious programme of public service reform, and to make reality that the Virgin Islands has the best public service in the world. 

Mr. Archer will support leaders across ministries as the Territory continues to recover and rebuild. He will also strive to ensure that areas under his group recover and become a beacon of excellence, and will continue to support the community to develop and support the Government to build better, greener, stronger and smarter.

The immediate former Deputy Governor Mrs. Rosalie Adams presided over the swearing-in ceremony.   The Governor thanked Mrs Adams for her service to the Territory and praised her integrity and leadership which he said will leave a legacy for a generation of public officers.

The primary role of the Deputy Governor in support of the Governor is to oversee the management and development of the Virgin Islands public service; to lead the public service to ensure the effective delivery of the Government’s programme and to maintain the highest standards of service delivery and good governance.

The post of Deputy Governor was established in 1977 replacing the previous post of Chief Secretary.  It is the highest administrative post to be held by a Virgin Islander.  The full responsibilities of the post are outlined in Sections 38 and 39 of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007. Other confirmed holders of the post were:

Mr. Norwell Harrigan, MBE
1961 – 1966, (Chief Secretary)

Alford Penn, OBE
1969 – 1977  (Chief Secretary);
then from 1977–1983 (Deputy Governor)

Elton Georges
1983 – 2003 and again from
April 2007 until September 2008

Dancia Penn, QC
September 2004 – April 2007

V. Inez Archibald, CBE,
September 2008 – August 2016

Rosalie Adams
August 2016 – February 2018

David Archer, Jr.
March 2018 – present

Audio Clips Attached

• His Excellency the Governor Augustus Jaspert (2)

Photographs attached

• Highlights from the Swearing-in Ceremony for Deputy Governor Mr. David Archer, Jr.