The Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands stands firmly behind the actions taken by the 35th Legislature in its recent legislative session. The rigors of productive legislative work are realized by the people and in the quality-of-life experiences. The in-depth review of proposals by committees of jurisdiction serves as the impetus for sound and progressive legislation for Virgin Islanders.
We applaud the legislature, its president, Novelle E. Francis, and the democratic majority for their crucial decision in approving the extension of the state of emergency. This decision is a testament to our unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of Virgin Islands residents.
State Chair Carol Burke expressed, “The first branch of government must understand and prioritize the needs of the people. The subsidies to the Water and Power Authority (WAPA) by the central government are evident, and to have done otherwise would have been catastrophic consequences to bear, including buffering rate hikes.”
We agree that WAPA’s management should be transparent and responsive to the legislature’s requests. WAPA’s CEO, Karl Knight, has thus far demonstrated a willingness to develop a strong relationship with the legislature, and we are assured that his leadership will foster a level of professionalism that will profoundly change the utility.
“As WAPA navigates trends in the global oil market and its impact on local consumption, we understand the need to extend the state of emergency as consumers. We urge WAPA not to squander the extension but develop short-term and long-term strategies to improve its finances and stabilize the utility’s operations,” Burke concluded.
Virgin Islands Democratic Party
