Sam Topp Resigns From Communications Position At Government House

ST. THOMAS — Sam Topp, who was the Mapp administration’s acting communications director since Cherie Munchez, the last person to hold the position was relieved of her duties in March, has resigned. Government House confirmed that Mr. Topp resigned last week.

The departure of Mr. Topp — an almost ubiquitous radio personality in the territory before his employment at Government House — leaves the territory, at least temporarily, without any official means through which to communicate with its government, and it was unclear how soon the governor intended to replace Mr. Topp — who himself was never given the communications director position.

Mr. Mapp has gone through a number of communication directors since taking office. During the announcement of Ms. Munchez’s appointment, Government House said the move was part of a larger restructuring effort in the communications division, with Nicole Bollentini, who held the communications director job for just four months prior to Ms. Munchez’s appointment, being named director of new media and strategic communication for the administration. Ms. Bollentini still holds her last position.

Ms. Bollentini had replaced Kimberly Jones, Mr. Mapp’s first communications director upon taking office in early 2015. Ms. Jones had stayed in the position for all of 2015, but took up a new role as deputy commissioner of the Department of Health, where she is believed to be currently employed. Ms. Jones, a certified peritoneal dialysis nurse (CPDN), had worked at the Juan F. Luis Hospital and told The Consortium during her departure from Government House that she was instrumental in “setting up several dialysis units in the territory.” She also taught a nursing program at the St. Croix Educational Complex between 2000-2003.