Legislature Moves to Honor Longtime Inspector General Steven van Beverhoudt With Building Renaming

The building at 2315 Kronprindens Gade in St. Thomas could soon be renamed The Steven van Beverhoudt Inspector General Building, after lawmakers voiced support for a resolution honoring the Virgin Islands’ longest-serving inspector general and his contributions to accountability, transparency and ethical governance.

The measure, Bill 36-0009, is sponsored by Senator Milton Potter and received its second hearing Thursday before the Committee on Rules and Judiciary. When the bill was first heard in March by the Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs, and Consumer Protection, Potter said the resolution was needed to honor Mr. van Beverhoudt for his “dedicated service and numerous contributions to the people of the Virgin Islands.”

During Thursday’s hearing, Potter described Mr. van Beverhoudt as a “giant” in the Virgin Islands community and praised his “distinguished public service and his steadfast contributions to accountability, transparency and good governance.”

Potter said that as the territory’s longest-serving inspector general, Mr. van Beverhoudt served with “unwavering commitment to fiscal responsibility and ethical governance, ensuring that the people's resources were managed with the highest degree of honesty.”

He also said Mr. van Beverhoudt’s leadership “fortified the credibility of the Office of the Inspector General and advanced a culture of accountability across every branch of government.”

Former Finance Commissioner Bernice Turnbull, who worked closely with Mr. van Beverhoudt, appeared in support of the resolution.

“I have never known him to compromise his integrity. It was a pleasure for me to work with him, because I understood the importance of his job,” she said.

Turnbull thanked the Legislature for considering the resolution while Mr. van Beverhoudt is alive. She also said she was the person who suggested renaming the building housing the Bureau of Audit and Control in his honor.

Lawmakers also heard from current Inspector General Delia Thomas, who said Mr. van Beverhoudt’s time in office was “characterized by his unwavering dedication to enhancing government operations.”

Thomas told lawmakers that “the investigations initiated under his tenure resulted in at least 354 counts and 14 convictions,” a record lawmakers said they found impressive.

She said she began working with Mr. van Beverhoudt in 1989 and recalled being struck by how he “dedicated himself to supporting his staff's professional development to strengthen the work product.”

Marsha DuBois, lead auditor at the Office of the V.I. Inspector General, also testified in support of the measure. She told lawmakers that Mr. van Beverhoudt created a positive work environment that helped young auditors settle into the profession quickly.

“His name has come to represent trust, honesty and a standard of integrity that [discourages] misconduct. He leaves behind a legacy of auditors who understand the importance of that trust and the consequences of its loss,” Ms. DuBois testified.

Bill 36-0009 now advances to the next stage of the legislative process. The measure was amended to require that if the Office of the Inspector General is ever relocated, the new building must also be named for Mr. van Beverhoudt.