Experienced professional surveyor Mrs. Keisha Holder-Lopez has been appointed as Chief Surveyor.
Mrs. Holder-Lopez was appointed effective April 4 for a period of two years following the approval of His Excellency the Governor, Mr. John Rankin, CMG in accordance with section 92 of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007 and the advice of the Public Service Commission.
As Chief Surveyor, Mrs. Holder-Lopez will be responsible for leading the Survey Department, including its effective management of survey requests, cartographic data and the associated tools and technology. She will also be responsible for providing expert advice and reports, and for the day-to-day management and training of staff in the department.
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Mr. Joesph Smith-Abbott welcomed Mrs. Holder-Lopez to the post.
“The Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration welcomes the new Chief Surveyor. She comes to us with a multiplicity of regional experience and technical knowledge which will serve the Territory well,” he said.
Prior to joining the Virgin Islands Public Service, Mrs. Holder-Lopez served as Chief Surveyor for the Government of Montserrat; and as a Senior District Surveyor in Turks and Caicos Islands. She also has extensive experience working as a private sector surveyor for various firms in Trinidad and Tobago.
Mrs. Holder-Lopez has been a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) since April 2016. She has been recognised as a Certified Associate in Project Management by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and she holds a Bachelor of Science (Second Class Honours) in Surveying and Land Information from the University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus.
Mrs. Holder-Lopez has continually worked to keep her professional skills current, having completed courses including promoting integrity in the workplace, environmental impact assessments, administrative law and professional ethics for RICS members.