A community activist on St. Croix opposed to the way Gov. Charles Turnbull is conducting negotiations for the possible sale of the V.I. Water and Power Authority said Monday that a lawsuit to halt the process will be filed this week.
Gail Watson Chiang and her attorney, Lee Rohn, contend that the administrations negotiations with Southern Energy violate local competitive bidding laws. In a Jan. 5 letter to Turnbull and a host of government officials, Rohn said the V.I. Code mandates that before a sale of a public asset or a government contract is let, the commissioner of Property and procurement must secure competitive bids. An ensuing sale should then be made to the highest bidder, she said.
As of Monday, Chiang said she hadnt been contacted by the administration, but Rohn had. Rohn, however, wasnt available to comment on her discussions. Government House spokeswoman Rina McBrowne didnt return calls.
But Chiang was adamant about moving forward with the suit.
"Its definitely going to come to pass. Im hoping some kind of (temporary restraining order) can be filed," she said, adding that the administrations contact with Rohn was inconclusive. "They seem to be doing business as usual."
Last week, Southern Energys George Gray told Rotarians on St. Croix that the company will offer $100 million in cash and refinance $150 million of the utilitys bond indebtedness for 80 percent ownership. The new company would be called V.I. Power.
As of last Wednesday, Gray said an offer would be submitted to the governor within five to 10 days.
Meanwhile, the proposed sale has divided the WAPA board of directors. Claude "Tappy" Molloy told WSTX radio that he opposes the sale. He said the manner in which negotiations have been carried out are "possibly illegal."
Molloy, meanwhile, said Rohns contentions were neither "totally wrong" nor "totally correct."
Also on WSTX Monday, board member Dean Plaskett, who is also commissioner of Planning and Natural Resources, said that as of yet, "nothing has been offered to the governor."
"We have an obligation to the people of the Virgin Islands to at least listen to what is being offered," Plaskett said.