Sen. Almando "Rocky" Liburd, who voted against the V.I. Water and Power Authority-Southern Energy Inc. deal Saturday, has written to Senate President Vargrave Richards requesting a meeting next month to address "serious problems that continue to plague WAPA."
In the meantime, WAPA on Monday issued a statement that an action plan to "address some of the pressing needs of the authority" was in the works.
Although Liburd promised Sunday to ask Richards to convene public hearings, the request is for a Committee of the Whole meeting during the week of Sept. 11 –– not necessarily for the public, according to a spokesperson from Liburd's office.
Liburd asked that WAPA Executive Director Raymond George, all the WAPA board members and financial officers attend.
"Throughout the three days of hearings on this issue, it was made clear by both those who supported and opposed the deal that changes must be made within WAPA to insure improved quality of service and reduced rates for all consumers," Liburd said in his letter.
Carol M. Burke, chairwoman of the WAPA board, in a press release late Monday asked the community "not to rush to judgment about the future of WAPA."
Burke said the board had been putting together an action plan since February that would address needs of the utility such as collecting receivables amounting to $30 million, installing underground transmission lines to the airport and hospital on each island, expanding the water system, reducing line loss in both the electrical and water systems and restructuring the authority.
Liburd, in explaining his vote against the sale of 80 percent of WAPA's assets to Southern Energy, said he does not believe the proposal, while good in some respects, offered the territory the best deal. "WAPA is worth more than a couple hundred million dollars," he said.
The WAPA profit margin should be around $20 million a year, he said.
"If the authority is profitable when the government owes millions, then we should find out why WAPA is not as profitable as it should be. I would be against allowing the status quo to prevail," Liburd said.
Over the weekend Liburd hinted that he would support an attempt to contract out the management of WAPA and dismantle the governing board. In his letter to Richards he said, "We must try and develop a comprehensive plan to help WAPA become the best it can be. If this means we must make some radical changes by restructuring the board, then it is our responsibility to do so."
Burke said that at the board's annual retreat in July, members decided to revise the authority's mission statement and develop and implement a strategic plan. She said the board members have also enlisted the help of American Public Power Association (APPA) for technical assistance.
Burke promised a statement would be released shortly on how the board intends to address problems at WAPA.
A call to Richards to determine if he intended to meet Liburd's request had not been returned as of late Monday.
