Finance Commissioner Kirk Callwood resigned after unauthorized staff stipend payments

Finance Commissioner Kirk Callwood resigned on October 19, 2020, after Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. asked for his resignation, Government House said on October 20, 2020.

Government House said Bryan sought the resignation after learning that Callwood had issued stipend payments to rank-and-file Department of Finance employees without prior authorization required under Virgin Islands government policies and protocols. The statement said the payments were within the department’s allotted budget but had not been previously approved.

Bryan accepted Callwood’s resignation effective immediately. Government House said Callwood also resigned as executive director of the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority.

Assistant Commissioner Clarina Modeste was named acting finance commissioner.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/government-house-announces-resignation-of-finance-commissioner/