12. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, ELECTION, CUSTODY OF SEAL,
 POWERS AND DUTIES.

 (a) There is hereby established the office of Lieutenant Governor for
 the Virgin Islands. He shall have custody of the seal of the Virgin Islands
 and shall countersign and affix such seal to all executive proclamations
 and all other executive documents. He shall record and preserve the
 laws enacted by the Legislature. He shall promulgate all proclamations
 and orders of the Governor and all laws enacted by the Legislature. He
 shall have such executive powers and perform such other duties as may
 be assigned to him by the Governor. The Lieutenant Governor shall be
 elected at the same time and in the same manner and for the same term
 as the Governor. No person shall be eligible for election to the office of
 Lieutenant Governor unless at the time of the election he is at least 30
 years of age, is able to read and write the English language, and has
 been for the preceding five years a citizen of the United States, and a
 bonafide resident of the Virgin Islands for five consecutive years
 immediately preceding the election. The nomination of candidates and
 the conduct of the election shall be governed by the laws of the Virgin
 Islands.

 VACANCY IN OFFICE, OF [sic., i.e., OR] ABSENCE OF GOVERNOR;
 POWERS OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

 (b) In case of the temporary disability or temporary absence of the
 Governor, the Lieutenant Governor shall have the powers of the
 Governor.

 Provided, however, that in case of a permanent vacancy in the Office
of the Governor due to death, disability or any other reason, the
Lieutenant Governor shall become the Governor, and as such he shall
appoint a new Lieutenant Governor, with the advice and consent of the
Legislature, both to hold office for the unexpired term and until their
successors shall have been duly elected and qualified.

 (c) In case of the temporary disability or temporary absence of the
Lieutenant Governor, or during such period when the Lieutenant
Governor is acting as the Governor, the Governor or the Acting Governor
may from time to time designate an officer or employee of the executive
branch of the Government of the Virgin Islands to act as Lieutenant
Governor so long as such condition continues. Provided, however, that in
case of a permanent vacancy in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor
due to death, disability or any other reason, the Governor shall appoint a
new Lieutenant Governor, with the advice and consent of the Legislature,
to hold office for the unexpired term until his successor shall have been