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STJ Residents Lash Out at WAPA CEO During a Town Hall Meeting (Part 2)

Marelise Beach
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STJ Residents Lash Out at WAPA CEO During a Town Hall Meeting (Part 2)

Editor’s note: This is part 2 of a report about a St. John town hall meeting on Wednesday. Part 1 is available here.

A woman has lost $500 worth of critical medication that requires refrigeration.

A mother is unable to heat formula for her newborn.

A vulnerable senior becomes severely stressed after days without current.

A parent now wonders where to find the money to replace food that spoiled.

Karl Knight faced tough questions at a town hall Wednesday night. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)

St. John residents confronted Water and Power Authority CEO Karl Knight with these and other examples of their suffering when he met with them at a town hall meeting Wednesday night to discuss a power outage that lasted three nights and two days.

St. John Administrator Shikima Jones-Sprauve calls for calm during the meeting. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)

During the three-hour meeting that became raucous at times, residents were intent on letting Knight know that they were tired of excuses, frustrated by WAPA’s lack of communication during the outage, and serious about seeking some form of recompense for their losses.

“WAPA is not in the financial situation to reimburse people.  I wish we were,” said Knight.  “I don’t have the funds, but that doesn’t mean we can’t as a community come up with a solution.”

Linda Titre’s shirt protests St. John being used as the cash cow. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)

Outside of the meeting, demonstrators held signs and circulated information for accessing a petition calling for the governor to declare a state of emergency. A declaration could trigger emergency funds that could help residents replace food and appliances destroyed by the outage as well as lead to federal funding to rebuild critical infrastructure, according to Delegate Stacey Plaskett.

“It’s increasingly exhausting. We’re demanding accountability,” said Raven Phillips. “What happened to the plans for generators in Cruz Bay and Coral Bay? That plan dated back to 2019. If it fell through, we want to know what the back-up plan is now.”

During the meeting, Knight answered those questions. He said WAPA had sought funding for the generators and selected a contractor, but technical consultants raised logistical questions about putting a generator on a piece of government land in Coral Bay. They also had concerns about whether there was adequate space in the site at Frank Bay for the Cruz Bay generator. By the time they got close to resolving these issues, the generators had gone out of production, and plans languished.

“We’re now going back to the original plan for 5 megawatts of standby generation at Frank Bay (near Cruz Bay) and 5 megawatts at Coral Bay,” Knight said. “Sixty-percent of the design work has been completed for Cruz Bay, and 30% has been completed for Coral Bay.  We hope to start construction in 2027.”

Knight said the two generators would be sufficient to power the entire island, but the real relief will come in the form of redundancy in transmission lines through submarine cables from St. Thomas.

Alan Smith presents historical context for St. John’s lack of infrastructure. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)

Alan Smith, a former head of DPNR, said that planners did not anticipate the population growth and rise in tourism on St. John decades ago. “Back in the 1950s, St. John was intended as the conservation island, and that mentality has captured us in this way.”

Residents questioned whether WAPA planners were now similarly mistaken by not anticipating a changing geopolitical landscape (which affects the cost of fossil fuels) while overlooking renewable resources available now in the islands. “Why are we still talking about petroleum products with all our sun and wind?” asked Leeanne DiGiacomo.

Knight said he was intent on building a utility for the future. “Fossil fuel generation is the backbone (of our system) but I’m more excited about what we’re doing with batteries and solar generation.”

A slide outlines plans for battery storage on St. John. (Photo presented at a WAPA town hall meeting held on March 24, 2026)

WAPA has plans to build solar arrays in Bovoni and Fortuna on St. Thomas, and Knight said he wants to construct a solar array on St. John as well as a 12-MW battery storage system.  Officials are now looking at a government-owned site in Cruz Bay, he said.

Residents chastised Knight for WAPA’s failure to send out alerts informing the public of the reasons for the outage, which began March 14, and not explaining what was being done to correct the problem.

Knight acknowledged that there was a lack of communication. “I’m not denying what you’re saying. The alerts are not automatic. (They require) real human beings being up at whatever hour to put out an alert.”

Penny Lambert describes hardships she faced during the outage. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)

He said the problem grew in complexity (see  part 1 of this story). “We thought we had power restored, and three hours later we were back at it,” he said. “We take every outage seriously and work around the clock to fix them. No one feels it more than WAPA employees …. The lights go out for our friends, our families, our classmates. We get cussing and tongue lashings from our families.”

Residents also aired grievances involving billing issues, some from estimated bills, some from non-functioning meters, and some from problems with solar generation.

One resident said his meter had been read only three times in 4 1/2 years, and the estimates have been wrong. “Fortunately, I have a Tesla system, and they tell us exactly what our usage is. But your billing department says they don’t accept information from outside providers.”

Knight said, “A lot of residents have developers put in solar, but to properly credit solar production, you have to fill out an application.” Customers with solar systems should apply to nebapply@viwapa.vi.

Brian Walden is in charge of the solar net metering program. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)

Knight introduced Brian Walden, who was hired to bring back the Net Energy Billing (NEB) program in October. The program allows customers who generate solar energy to send their unused power back into the WAPA grid and earn billing credit.

“All utility companies at some point estimate bills,” Knight said, but the situation on St. John has gotten worse since the two meter readers on the island retired.

The territory has had trouble with meters since the hurricanes in 2017 when nearly half of the meters failed. WAPA hired a company to modify the meters, but that fix also failed, resulting in a class action lawsuit against WAPA in 2021.

Knight estimated that there were 10,000 broken meters in the territory. Of those, 9,000 were replaced, and although they are accurate, they are not “smart” and will need to be replaced.

Now WAPA is moving forward with another company to provide smart meters, which are manufactured to be read remotely.

“We’re working with a company with a great reputation,” Knight said. “There are now 56,000 new meters on island, and we will start deploying them on St. John in September. The delay has to do with installing the network infrastructure.” Once the system is in, “we will no longer be deploying meter reading.” Until then, WAPA is seeking to hire two meter readers on St. John to replace the two that retired.

Towards the end of the meeting, Kurt Marsh spoke up. “These conversations are stressful because they are not new,” he said. “Everything you talk about tonight, deliver! We are vexed about all the things that haven’t happened.”

He called out Knight as the governor’s former chief of staff, as well as senators, the island administrator, and the governor, to do better.

Knight responded, “I started my career with WAPA. I’m here because I don’t run from responsibility. I don’t come to make excuses. I’m telling you what we’re going to do, and I wish I could do it sooner. You’re my customers. You can hold me accountable.  If I didn’t do it reliably, I sincerely want to apologize.”

Kurt Marsh calls for accountability. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)

“Find the money to give us some kind of recompense,” replied Marsh.

“I applaud you and your staff,” said Delia Smith. “You’re walking into a tumultuous situation. What’s missing is the human element.” Later in the meeting she asked, “How can we have accountability? Will we have committees? Where are the touchpoints?”

Knight said he didn’t mind meeting more frequently. “I hope at our next meeting there will be a little less anger. And maybe sometime in the future, some applause … . I thank you for being vocal. This is not the end of the conversation.”

Bertha C. Boschulte PreK-8 School Modernization Begins

Mat Probasco
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Bertha C. Boschulte PreK-8 School Modernization Begins

The Virgin Islands Department of Education, in partnership with Consigli/Benton Joint Venture, the Government of the Virgin Islands, and the Office of Disaster Recovery officially launched the Bertha C. Boschulte PreK-8 School Modernization Project during a ceremonial event held on Thursday, March 26 at the school’s campus.

The ceremony brought together government officials, education leaders, project partners, students, and community members to celebrate a transformative milestone for public education. (Submitted photo)

The ceremony brought together government officials, education leaders, project partners, students, and community members to celebrate a transformative milestone for public education in the territory. The ceremony also highlighted a shared commitment to advancing modern, resilient, and student-centered learning environments across the Territory.

“This project represents more than new buildings, it represents opportunity, innovation, and a commitment to developing the whole child. The impact of this project is significant in that it will benefit future generations of students who can receive instruction in learning environments developed for student success,” said Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Ed.D.

The Bertha C. Boschulte PreK-8 modernization is among the first projects identified in VIDE’s Educational Facilities Master Plan. The transformation of the existing 14-building campus will introduce innovative design elements such as enhanced outdoor passages and learning spaces, and collaborative maker areas to support project-based and inquiry-driven learning.

James Benton, Principal-in-Charge of Consigli/Benton, shared what being entrusted with the $120.6M modernization project means to his team: “Our team takes great pride in being part of projects that matter, and this one is especially meaningful because it directly impacts the lives of young people in our community. This is our home, and we understand the responsibility that comes with building spaces where future leaders are shaped.”

The upgraded campus will be designed to be net-zero energy-ready, featuring modernized infrastructure, improved building systems, and expanded use of key facilities, including the auditorium, library, cafeteria, and gymnasium, for both school and community engagement.

With a projected completion date of December 2028, the modernization project underscores VIDE’s continued investment in creating equitable, high-quality educational spaces that foster student achievement, innovation, and long-term sustainability.

“ODR recognizes the urgency of completing these critical projects by 2035 and is actively working toward that goal. Prioritizing the commencement of construction and the successful completion of school projects is essential to providing the educational environment our students deserve. It is imperative that we rebuild infrastructure from which our children and their children can benefit. This occasion reminds us why and for whom these projects are intended,” remarked ODR Director Adrienne L. Williams-Octalien. “Thank you to our partners FEMA, VIDE, Consigli/Benton, SMMA and Design District Architects, and all other stakeholders for their commitment to seeing this project to completion.”

During his comments, Governor Bryan emphasised the critical importance of capacity building across the territory as the Virgin Islands enters a period of unprecedented growth and recovery. With major projects advancing and new opportunities emerging, the Governor emphasized that success will depend on a strong, ready, and willing workforce.

“Today marks more than the start of a construction project. It marks another promise made real for the people of the Virgin Islands. At a time of tremendous growth and transformation across our Territory, we have to make sure our people are prepared to rise with it. When we modernize a school like Bertha C. Boschulte, we are saying our children deserve spaces that support learning, inspire excellence, and prepare them for the future. This is how we build a stronger Virgin Islands. That is what this project represents, and that is why this moment matters.” said Governor Albert Bryan Jr.

The Bertha C. Boschulte PreK-8 School is named in honor of a distinguished educator and public servant and continues to stand as a symbol of educational excellence in the Virgin Islands. This modernization marks a new chapter in its legacy—one that will empower students and strengthen the community for years to come.

To learn more about the Bertha C. Boschulte PreK-8 School and the Department of Education’s plan to build new schools in the Virgin Islands, visit www.newschoolsvide.com.

Separate Fires Claim St. Croix Man, Church Building

Marelise Beach
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Separate Fires Claim St. Croix Man, Church Building

Arson investigators were studying the cause of two fires Thursday — a pre-dawn inferno that gutted a St. Croix church building and a Wednesday blaze nearby that left a man dead, officials said.

Arson investigators were studying two nearby fires in St. Croix Thursday. The one in this small structure may have caused the death of the man living there. (Photo courtesy Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services)

Firefighters found a small structure adjacent a main house on East Street in Christiansted completely engulfed in flames shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday. Shefton Clarke, 65, was found outside the structure where he had been living and was later pronounced dead, Virgin Islands Police Department and Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services officials said.

No other injuries or damage to the main residence or nearby properties was reported. An autopsy was scheduled to confirm the cause of Clarke’s death, police said.

“This is a tragic incident,” VIFEMS Director Antonio Stevens said in a written statement. “We extend our condolences to the family and friends during this difficult time and recognize the impact this loss has on the community.”

Twelve hours later, firefighting crews rushed to the second blaze that had engulfed part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church just a few blocks away.

Fire charred the Christiansted Seventh-day Adventist Church’s older, second structure in Thursday’s early hours. (Photo courtesy Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services)

Emergency crews reached the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Christiansted Temple around 2 a.m. Thursday to find fire raging in a building adjacent the main church, officials said. The inferno’s intensity eventually required three fire companies to bring under control.

The building’s street-level second story was gutted, with severe damage to its roof. The main church building, just feet away, was not damaged and no one was hurt, officials said.

WAPA Board Presses for Answers on VIHFA Funding, Updates on STT/STJ Outages

Marelise Beach
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WAPA Board Presses for Answers on VIHFA Funding, Updates on STT/STJ Outages

The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Governing Board on Thursday via Microsoft Teams and in person on St. Croix advanced several infrastructure projects while confronting growing concerns about delayed funding from the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (VIHFA) that officials say is impacting operations, vendor payments, and ultimately service reliability in the territory.

During the meeting, board members approved amendments to the agenda to include time extensions for multiple projects, including the Queen Mary Highway undergrounding work and a line of credit extension with Banco Popular.

A key discussion centered on a request to extend a contract with West Peak Energy for project management support tied to the Wartsila generation project. The proposed amendment included a $300,000 increase and a time extension through August to assist with closing out the project and addressing outstanding items. The authority originally hired West Peak in 2022 to help with putting the generators online.

However, the board ultimately voted to table the measure after concerns were raised about payment terms and outstanding balances owed to the contractor. Project Management Director Maxwell George told the board that West Peak has not been paid since August 2025, despite invoices being submitted, and warned that the contractor is now considering a stop work notice due to the delayed payments.

“They are right now at the cost of giving WAPA a stop work notice because of payment,” George said.

Executive Director and CEO Karl Knight acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, pointing to broader systemic delays.

“The HUD funds via VIHFA have not been forthcoming,” Knight said. “There’s $38 million caught up for projects that could make a meaningful difference in reliability of our system.”

Knight added that while federal funding through FEMA has been more consistent, Community Development Block Grant disaster recovery funds administered by VIHFA have been slower to reach projects, creating bottlenecks that affect infrastructure work and vendor payments.

“That has been much more vexing. It all comes down to bureaucracy, and that is having real world implications on our ability to provide services to our customers,” he said.

Board members expressed frustration, noting that delayed funding not only affects project timelines but also risks long-standing partnerships with contractors.

“We shouldn’t have a partner of 30 years threatened to walk off because a local partner cannot uphold their part of the agreement,” one board member said during the discussion.

The board requested a status update on funding from VIHFA by the end of next week and emphasized the need for improved coordination to ensure vendors are paid in a timely manner so projects tied to system reliability can move forward.

Later in the meeting the discussion shifted to ongoing service interruptions in the St. Thomas and St. John district, where residents have experienced recent outages caused by both infrastructure failures and generation issues.

As previously reported Knight told the board a major outage affecting St. John began the night of March 14, when a transmission line supplying the island was compromised around 10 p.m. Crews mobilized immediately and attempted to restore service by switching to a secondary cable connecting St. Thomas and St. John.

Power was temporarily restored late Sunday morning, but the system failed again just hours later after a fire broke out in a junction box, causing further damage. Crews were then forced to return to the original damaged line, resulting in an extended outage that lasted approximately 48 hours and affected residents over three nights.

“Needless to say, that was quite a setback for us, with our customers, especially on the island of St. John,” Knight said.

The situation was further complicated by the nature of the initial damage. According to Knight, early findings suggest the transmission line did not fail naturally.

“All evidence points to the fact that the cable did not fail naturally, that the cable was actually intentionally cut,” he said.

The outages were discussed during the meeting just after a St. John town hall on Wednesday evening where residents voiced frustration with the utility following repeated service interruptions and prolonged outages.

Separate from the St. John incident, St. Thomas has been experiencing rotating outages due to generation shortfalls at the Randolph Harley Power Plant, where multiple units have been offline, including Unit 15, a 46-year-old generator described as a workhorse of the system.

Knight said the loss of Unit 15, combined with other units already down for maintenance or repairs, left the system short by about five megawatts during peak periods, forcing the utility to implement rotational outages.

“That has forced us to put out preemptive rotational schedules during the day when we are short those five megawatts,” he said.

Crews have been working around the clock to restore the unit, with additional personnel brought in from St. Croix to assist. Officials said once the unit returns to service, the rotational outages are expected to stop.

Knight emphasized that the outages are not related to fuel shortages.

“We have not had a fuel shortage issue — this is a generator showing its age,” he said.

In other action, the board approved a $35,251 cost increase and a 10-day extension for the Hannah’s Rest Phase I underground project on St. Croix. The delay was attributed to a temporary suspension of work during the Crucian Christmas Festival to accommodate traffic and public safety concerns. The project is now expected to be completed by April 14.

The board also approved a 30-day, no-cost extension for the Queen Mary Highway undergrounding project, which is approximately 99 percent complete. The extension will allow time to install a current transformer cabinet and transition customers to the new underground system, as well as complete remaining punch list items. Officials said the undergrounding work is part of a broader effort to improve system resilience and reliability, particularly for critical facilities along the corridor.

Members present included Board Chair Maurice K. Muia, Hubert Turnbull, Xavier Acevedo, Joan Foy, Kyle Fleming, and Cheryl Boynes-Jackson.

GVI Inks Luis Hospital Demolition, Rebuild Contract

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GVI Inks Luis Hospital Demolition, Rebuild Contract
A concept drawing by Flad Architects depicts a room at the rebuilt Juan F. Luis Hospital. (Image courtesy V.I. Disaster Recovery Office)

The V.I. Disaster Recovery Office announced Thursday that a contract awarded to Suffolk Construction to demolish and rebuild the Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix has been executed, kicking off a $3.4 million phase of preconstruction work.

Initial work includes optimizing designs, conducting constructability reviews and performing value engineering, according to a joint press release issued Thursday. Preconstruction is expected to take 12 months and will be completed in tandem with the hospital’s demolition, which is slated to happen some time before 2027.

“Rebuilding the territory’s hospitals remains one of the highest priorities of the recovery, and the execution of this contract signifies a pivotal step forward in this effort,” ODR Director Adrienne Williams-Octalien stated. “The Office of Disaster Recovery looks forward to continued collaboration with all stakeholders to build a state-of-the-art facility that meets current industry standards.”

JFL chief executive Darlene Baptiste, who was recently appointed CEO of Schneider Regional Medical Center amid an administrative consolidation of the territory’s hospitals, said the project “centers on the patients, families, and healthcare professionals who depend on a safe, advanced environment to provide and receive high-quality care.”

“We are proud to move forward in partnership with Suffolk Construction to strengthen and sustain healthcare services for current and future generations,” she stated.

The project’s award to Suffolk came nearly six months after the V.I. Public Finance Authority authorized negotiations with Clark Construction and MCN Build. In January, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said the government was in the “final stages” of contracting, and Willliams-Octalien told the PFA board in February that ODR was “blindsided” when the Clark-MCN joint venture walked away from the negotiating table. According to Williams-Octalien, the contractors had insisted on an arbitration clause which would have allowed them to settle contractual disputes outside of the Virgin Islands.

Committee Advances Bill to Provide Paid Leave for Parents of Children With Disabilities

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Committee Advances Bill to Provide Paid Leave for Parents of Children With Disabilities
Sen. Avery L. Lewis introduces Bill 36‑0207 in the Committee on Education and Workforce Development on March 25, 2025. (Photo courtesy V.I. Legislature)

Lawmakers in the Virgin Islands Legislature on Wednesday advanced a measure aimed at easing the burden on families raising children with disabilities, approving the proposal unanimously in committee.

Bill 36-0207 cleared the Committee on Education and Workforce Development, moving it to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary. The legislation would require employers to provide a set amount of paid leave each month to parents or legal guardians so they can attend medical and therapy appointments for their children without losing income.

Under the proposal, eligible employees would receive dedicated paid time off specifically for appointments related to a child’s diagnosed disability, including medical, therapeutic and diagnostic visits. The requirement would apply broadly to both public and private-sector workers, including employees of companies that receive government incentives.

As introduced, the bill provides for two hours of paid leave per month. However, senators signaled support for increasing that amount to four hours.

“This legislation represents a smart, balanced investment in children, families and the long‑term health of our community,” said Assistant Health Commissioner Reuben Molloy. “At its core, it advances one of the fundamental objectives of public health: ensuring early detection of changes in a child’s health and development and facilitating timely access to treatment and supportive services before conditions worsen.”

“By removing barriers to care, we strengthen prevention, improve outcomes and build a more responsive and resilient healthcare system,” Molloy added.

Officials from the Virgin Islands Department of Labor backed the measure, but also urged lawmakers to make sure the new protections are clear and workable for businesses of different sizes. They argued that supporting caregivers is not only a matter of fairness, but also good economics. “When working parents are able to take care of their children without risking their job or their income, it benefits everyone,” said Assistant Commissioner Nesha Christian-Hendrickson of the Department of Labor.

“Employees are more focused and committed, and employers retain experienced workers, and the overall workforce becomes stronger and more stable.” Christian-Hendrickson said that’s why the department is asking for precise definitions, reasonable timelines and flexibility for emergencies, so the law can be enforced consistently without overburdening small employers.

Beyond agency testimony, several senators framed the measure as a basic quality-of-life issue. Sen. Novelle E. Francis Jr. said no parent should be forced to choose between earning a paycheck and meeting a child’s medical needs, particularly when ongoing therapy and evaluations are required.

“No parent should have to choose between keeping their job and caring for their child, grandchild or whoever that may be. It’s very painful. It’s extremely distracting,” Francis said. “Giving them that four hours, giving them six hours, perhaps, I think is critical.”

Lawmakers and agency officials outlined several changes they want to see before the bill advances further, including increasing the number of paid hours, clarifying who qualifies as a full-time employee, and strengthening enforcement language so employers clearly understand what constitutes a violation. They also urged lawmakers to specify who would be responsible for imposing penalties and how long workers would have to file complaints.

“We want to make sure this leave is administered consistently and in alignment with the existing caregiver framework,” said Cindy Richardson, director of the Virgin Islands Division of Personnel. “The enforcement provisions assign additional responsibilities to our division, so the guidelines have to be very clear.”

Committee members and witnesses also pressed for clear rules on how emergencies will be handled when parents cannot provide advance notice, as well as guidance on how the new benefit would align with an existing caregiver leave law that has been slow to take effect.

That concern was echoed by Sen. Kurt A. Vialet, who pointed to the territory’s track record of delayed implementation and noted that a caregiver leave law approved in 2016 is only now seeing policies and regulations put in place.

“If we pass this bill and it’s not implemented, it’s just one of the many measures the Legislature has passed that hasn’t been carried out,” said Vialet, the committee’s chair. “We need to make it work as quickly as possible.”

Sen. Avery L. Lewis, the bill’s sponsor, agreed that the proposal will require technical amendments before reaching a final vote, but said the committee’s support marks an important step for families seeking relief.

“I have some amendments to do, some homework to do, but I really thank you,” Lewis told colleagues after the vote. “This is really personal and fitting for the people of the Virgin Islands. It’s a critical need.”

Rotational Outages to Continue on St. Thomas and St. John

Mat Probasco
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The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority is providing an update on ongoing restoration efforts for Unit 15, as rotational outages remain in effect across the St. Thomas and St. John District beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m.

Unit 15 has been offline for several days undergoing necessary maintenance and repairs. During initial efforts to return the unit to service last night, crews encountered an unexpected issue when the starting oil pump became defective while the unit was being placed into its startup sequence.

Plant personnel worked throughout the evening to diagnose and address the issue. Due to the complexity of the repair and the extended hours already undertaken by crews, a decision was made to pause overnight to ensure personnel safety and avoid fatigue-related risks. Work has resumed this morning with a focus on completing the pump replacement.

Reassembly of Unit 15 was successfully completed yesterday. Maintenance personnel then initiated the restart cycle last night. The restart process is complex and can take several hours to complete, as multiple system checks and safety verifications must be conducted before the unit can be fully returned to service.

Unit 15 is expected to be brought online by early evening today, pending successful completion of all startup procedures.

WAPA extends its appreciation to the St. Croix crew for providing additional support to expedite restoration efforts. The Authority also commends all plant personnel who have worked long hours under challenging conditions over the past several days.

In the interim, a tentative rotational outage schedule remains in effect for the St. Thomas/St. John District on Thursday, March 26, to help manage system demand until full generating capacity is restored:

9:30 AM-11:30 AM

Feeder 8B

11:30 AM-1:30 PM

Feeder 7A

1:30 PM-3:30 PM

Feeder 8A

3:30 PM-5:30 PM

Feeder 6A

5:30 PM-7:30 PM

Feeder 10B

7:30 PM-9:30 PM

Feeder 7B

Feeder 8B

9:30 PM-11:30 PM

Feeder 7C

In addition, there was a temporary non-related outage of the WAPA Outage Map, but as of Saturday, March 21, 2026, the outage map has been restored and real-time outages can be seen at http://outageviewer.viwapa.vi:7575/.

Customers are encouraged to stay informed of any changes to the rotational outage schedule by enrolling in WAPA Alerts, which provides updates via text, email, or voice notification: https://www.viwapa.vi/news-information/advisory-details.

The Authority recognizes the strain these outages place on residents and businesses and sincerely appreciates the community’s support and understanding during this time. Crew are working diligently to restore full power, and updates will continue to be shared as progress is made.

STJ Residents Lash Out at WAPA CEO During Town Hall Meeting

Source staff
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STJ Residents Lash Out at WAPA CEO During Town Hall Meeting

Editor’s Note: This is part one, which covers the cause of the recent extended power outage on St. John. 

St. John residents let out decades of pent-up resentments at a town-hall meeting hosted by Karl Knight, CEO of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority on Wednesday evening.

Residents piled into the Julius E. Sprauve School cafeteria in Cruz Bay to vent their frustrations that peaked as a result of a power outage that began on Saturday night, March 14, and finally ended on Tuesday morning, March 17, with intermittent outages following the next day.

Knight spent three hours explaining the cause of the disruption and taking questions from audience members about plans to replace compromised submarine cables from St. Thomas, install generators, swap out faulty electrical meters, and develop solar energy sources.

Karl Knight, WAPA CEO, fields a question during the town hall meeting in Cruz Bay. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)

But he was also forced to address “the human factors” — food and medicine (and money) lost because of lack of refrigeration, seniors left alone in the dark, and the failure of WAPA staff to keep the public informed during the outages, as well as provide accountability with billing issues.

The meeting was preceded by a demonstration held in Frank Powell Park in Cruz Bay. Protesters urged passersby to attend the meeting and sign a petition demanding that WAPA become accountable in a number of ways, including declaring a state of emergency, which would allow the public to file claims for losses resulting from the outage.

St. John residents hold signs in Frank Powell Park prior to WAPA’s town hall meeting on St. John on Wednesday. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)
Raven Phillips holds signs directing the public to use a QR code to access a petition for greater accountability from WAPA. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)

As people piled into the Sprauve School cafeteria at 5:30 p.m., the sound system failed and the scene became more chaotic. Frustration mounted when it became known that WAPA was not able to livestream the meeting on Facebook because of an internet outage earlier in the day. However, the meeting was recorded on a cellphone and can be seen here.

Audience members, including Sen. Angel Bolques, await the replacement of a faulty sound system at the St. John town hall meeting on Wednesday. Shannell Spencer, director of corporate communications, is in the right foreground. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)

Causes of the outage

Knight began the meeting, which was planned in February before the March outage occurred, by explaining what went wrong on March 14. The outage was rumored to be caused by a failure of the submarine cable between St. Thomas and St John, but Knight said the submarine portion of the cable was not at fault. It appears that a land-based part of the cable was damaged by an act of vandalism.

Knight showed a photo of a cable in Red Hook with cuts that were apparently man-made, perhaps by vandals, perhaps by someone attempting to steal copper.

A slideshows the damaged cable, which led to the onset of the power outage that began at 9:57 p.m. on March 14. (Photo of a slide presented by WAPA at a town-hall meeting in Cruz Bay, March 24, 2026)

“The protection on the line tripped before someone was electrocuted,” Knight said, adding that an arc of light might have been visible at the time of the incident, that police had been notified, and the hospital had been warned to be on the lookout for burn victims.

“How is it that the cable was accessible to vandals? And why were there no cameras?” asked an audience member.

“I can’t answer why it wasn’t secured,” said Knight. “There are a lot things we try to do as a company. Nobody has ever tampered (with equipment) like this. It’s probably on the list (of things to do), but it wasn’t the biggest crisis we faced.”

(On Wednesday, residents challenged this explanation by Knight on social media posts, asking why there was no sign of burn damage to the cable as might be expected.)

Knight continued his explanation of the repairs made by crews who conducted tests and prematurely announced Saturday morning that they had successfully connected to an abandoned transmission line, marked as AA in the photo.

A slide presents the timeline of the St. John outage and attempted repair on March 14 – March 15. (Photo of a slide presented by WAPA at a town-hall meeting in Cruz Bay, March 24, 2026)

“What we didn’t know was that there was damage, which was not apparent, in the junction box, and that resulted in a fire,” Knight said.

A slideshows a fire discovered on the afternoon of March 15 in a junction box. (Photo of a slide presented by WAPA at a town-hall meeting in Cruz Bay, March 24, 2026)

“When we first were energized, we thought (the problem) was just a cut, but it created a fault, and one of the phases of our three-phase power was compromised,” he said.

Knight said that crews were finally able to restore power by combining the two phases from line A and one from Line AA. “That’s why we’re able to be here tonight,” he said.

WAPA has two other transmission lines that serve St. John from St. Thomas, but neither of them works. The Cabrita Point line was put in around 2006, but was damaged sometime around 2021, possibly by someone attempting to remove sargassum seaweed. As its purpose was to provide redundancy, it was not slated for immediate repair.

Karl Knight explains submarine transmission lines from STT to STJ. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)

Knight said a local contractor has now been found to complete the repairs; they are identifying the scope of the work and are procuring materials from manufacturers. Following that, “We would like to get it repaired within 30 days,” he said.

“What we are working on.” A slide describes the repair work for the Great Bay Transmission Line. (Photo of a slide presented by WAPA at a town-hall meeting in Cruz Bay, March 24, 2026)

The fourth line, which supports transmission to Cruz Bay, was damaged during the hurricanes of 2017. “This is the only line that is available for federal funding, and is part of a FEMA bundle. We expect construction to begin in 2027,” Knight said.

“We’re restoring layers of redundancy, and we need to put in a third transmission line,” Knight said, adding that WAPA is now working with VI Next Generation Network to bundle WAPA’s electricity transmission with viNGN’s telecommunication line. He described the agreement as “pending.”

(Part two will discuss “the human factor” and questions regarding generators and solar power on St. John.)

Education Committee Hears St. Croix School Redistricting Proposal

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Education Committee Hears St. Croix School Redistricting Proposal
Sen. Kurt A. Vialet chairs the Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy V.I. Legislature)

The Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee on Wednesday discussed a sweeping St. Croix school redistricting plan that would shift hundreds of students, open a new PreK – 8 campus and close John H. Woodson Junior High.

The committee heard testimony from the Virgin Islands Education Department on the proposal to redraw school attendance zones across St. Croix. Officials said the changes would affect hundreds of students and reshape how they are assigned to schools across the island.

Education Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington told lawmakers the redistricting effort is aimed at correcting decades of imbalance between where students live and where they attend school, reducing transportation costs and addressing aging infrastructure. But the proposal also drew concerns from senators about transparency, equity and whether the territory is prepared for such a large-scale transition.

“The redrawing of the school district boundaries reflects the shifts in population and demographics and reallocation of resources. Students shall attend school based on residential boundary lines that feed into the various schools,” said Wells-Hedrington.

Under the plan, which would take effect in the 2026–27 school year, the new Arthur Richards PreK – 8 campus at Estate Paradise would add significant capacity for crowded western St. Croix schools, including Eulalie R. Rivera PreK – 8. The modern facility is designed for roughly 720 students across 29 classrooms, with additional “flex” spaces that can be converted as needed.

By shifting students from nearby neighborhoods into Arthur Richards and redrawing surrounding school boundaries, education officials say they can even out enrollment that has become lopsided over three decades of school closures and housing changes.

“Simply put, students are not attending the school closest to their residential address, and busloads of students are passing each other daily,” Well-Hedrington told senators, arguing that aligning campuses with residential clusters would shorten commutes and cut transportation spending.

Currently, the Education Department contracts for about 950 miles of bus routes each day for general and special education students at $16.01 per mile. Wells-Hedrington said having buses “traversing our highways” to ferry students past their nearest schools has become one of the department’s most expensive line items, and that redistricting is intended to reclaim some of that money for classrooms and building upkeep.

“The current system is no longer aligned with where our students live, how our schools are utilized, or what it costs to operate efficiently … If no action is taken, the territory will continue to face overcrowded classrooms … and escalating transportation costs that reduces instructional time and strain already limited resources,” said Well-Hedrington.

However, the Virgin Islands Board of Education indicated it is not yet prepared to sign off on the redistricting map. Board Chair Kyza Callwood told lawmakers the board “was not involved in the creation or adaptation of the redistricting plan” crafted by the Education Department and sees its role as ensuring any changes do not undermine access to quality schools.

Callwood said the board’s support is contingent on the department proving the plan will be implemented fairly and transparently. He called for a comprehensive equity analysis to show which communities and student groups would be moved and making sure “no group of students is disproportionately affected,” and urged officials to demonstrate that all schools gaining students will have adequate teachers, support staff and facilities.

“The board requires assurance that all schools are adequately prepared for enrollment shifts,” he testified, “including proper staffing, instructional materials, technology and facility readiness to support student success.”

Communication with families was another major concern. Callwood pressed for a centralized redistricting support call center to serve as “a primary point of contact for parents, guardians and community members,” staffed with people who can answer questions about school assignments, transportation and program availability in multiple languages.

He also recommended creating a redistricting advisory committee that includes the commissioner’s office, superintendents, special education, parent-teacher associations, the Board of Education, the business community and the Senate.

Lawmakers did not oppose the redistricting outright but pressed Wells-Hedrington on whether the system is prepared for such a significant change. Several questioned the 2026–27 timeline, requested detailed boundary maps and transportation data, and raised concerns about impacts on special-education students, parents and students who could lose trusted teachers if reassigned.

Others focused on what the changes will feel like for families. They worried parents could learn of new school assignments only after buying uniforms and said many households will miss website notices or radio spots unless letters go home with students.

“I really have some concern with this entire redistricting … we have to make sure that families are notified in a timely manner and they’re prepared, because if not, we’re going to have serious problems.” Sen. Franklin Johnson said.

Before any lines are finalized, senators urged the Education Department to prove that receiving campuses are ready for a larger student body, including showing that classrooms are free of mold, core positions are filled, and programs such as ESL and special education can be maintained at least at current levels.

Sen. Kenneth Gittins and other senators added that decisions must be data-driven. “I want to make sure that the department is making policy decisions based on confirmed migration data and not on projected assumptions tied to housing redevelopment, because this could change at any time,” he said.

One of the most contentious pieces of the redistricting plan is the decision to shut down John H. Woodson as a junior high. That move was complicated by testimony from Craig Benjamin, executive director of the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance, who told senators a recent walk‑through found John H. Woodson “fully operational” after more than $5 million in mold remediation and roof repairs this school year, with major systems functioning and only minor maintenance needs. Lawmakers used that contrast to question whether it makes sense to close a campus that has just received significant investment.

Wells‑Hedrington said she remains optimistic that the redistricting “represents a necessary and strategic step toward creating a more efficient, equitable and sustainable public education system in the Virgin Islands,” calling it an effort “grounded in data, informed by changing population patterns, and guided by our responsibility to provide students with access and quality to quality education within their communities.”

CZM Reviews Major Renovation Plans for Two St. Thomas Schools, Bowsky and EBO

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CZM Reviews Major Renovation Plans for Two St. Thomas Schools, Bowsky and EBO

Members of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources’ Coastal Zone Management Committee expressed optimism Tuesday during a virtual public hearing on plans to modernize the Yvonne E. Milliner Bowsky School and rebuild the Emanuel Benjamin Oliver Elementary School on St. Thomas, as the public begins a seven-day period to submit responses to the applicants’ testimony.

“We’re excited about all of our projects coming online. It’s no mystery to anyone on this call that our buildings are deteriorating every day that we speak. So the quicker we are able to retrofit our campuses where they become more conducive to the learning environment for our students is where our passion and our drive remains,” said Education Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington.

Regarding the Bowsky School, student capacity will increase from 420 to 624 students after renovations. The 10 acre property’s project includes demolishing existing temporary modules to modernize classrooms, constructing a new gymnasium that will serve as a safe shelter, a sports field with a soccer pitch, parking expansion and reconfiguration with a perimeter vehicle loop for fire truck access, a waste water treatment plant, a potable water system, a HVAC chiller yard, and upgrading the electrical and plumbing systems. New roofs on campus will be constructed with metal and have solar panels attached for battery storage. Additionally, renovations will also manage stormwater runoff.

Virtual rendering of completed Yvonne E. Milliner Bowsky School post-reconstruction. (Microsoft Teams meeting screenshot)

Amy Dempsey, the environmental consultant for Bioimpact, said: “One of the problems they have consistently at the school is that the road that runs at the back of the school floods.” She added that the plan addresses this problem.

Additionally, according to Dempsey, “two heritage trees” and “a few specimen trees” will be impacted by the expansion of the parking lot.

“In order to build an adequate amount of parking and everything, there was no way to work around them,” said Dempsey. She added that native vegetation, however, will be replanted, and that a 90-foot well near the property can possibly be used for groundwater mitigation.

The project is expected to be completed in four phases and take 38 months.

Jawanza Hilaire questioned applicants about the parking lot construction, alluding that the upgrade might not mitigate traffic for pickup and drop-off challenges.

Chris Boyette, architect representative from Zycovich, responded, “If we can try and utilize that back road where we can do pickup and drop off for older kids, and then try to minimize the entry drop off, we’re studying that.”

Vance Pinney, CZM committee member, questioned the applicants about the use of the nearby well. He commented that he had no facts on the matter, but that “tests should be done on that well because I understand something in the past where that well was poisoned because two brothers who were trying to kill each other.”

Dempsey shared that though she heard about the family feud regarding the well, there are no intentions to use the well for the school, but rather for groundwater studies.

Regarding the Emanuel Benjamin Oliver Elementary School, the campus will get a complete revamp.

“It will be a pre-K to 8 school when it is completed,” said Chaneel Callwood-Daniels, Education Department architect. “So we are taking the first step to demolish all the buildings that are there, and then the designs are in progress.”

Virtual rendering of completed Emanuel Benjamin Oliver School post reconstruction. (Microsoft Teams meeting screenshot)

The project will demolish all buildings, parking lots, and sidewalks. A new entrance drive, a north-side parking lot, and a west-side utility building will be constructed. Additionally, one two-story administration building, one two-story classroom building, a dining room building, and a gymnasium will be constructed and arranged around a central courtyard. An outdoor sports court between the gym and classroom building will be added and a playground will be added between the classroom and administration building. All buildings will be constructed with pitched roofs.

This 10-acre property project is expected to take 25 months to complete and is anticipated to start at the end of this summer. Originally designed to house up to 700 students in 1975, it will be reduced to accommodate 486 students. Education officials said that though the student footprint is decreasing, other campuses are expanding to accommodate increasing student bodies on island.

“Presently there’s a [community] lot, and if my memory serves me correct, those lots have to gain access through the school’s property,” mentioned Pinney, who inquired about alternative access routes for property owners near the school.

Wells-Hedrington responded and said that the access through the school is a “shortcut” for the residents, but the main access is adjacent to the school.

“The community utilized a walkway in between the campus as a shortcut to their area. However when we build this school, that access to this shortcut won’t be available any more,” she said. “It’s just a matter of defining the property, but their access will not be limited because they have the access now.”

“Where are all these materials that are being demoed going? Because we already have a landfill that is beyond measurable right now. And if this was built in the 70s, it’s concrete, it’s steel,” questioned Jawanza Hilaire, CZM board member.

Maria Luisa Villegas, representative of the contractor Suffolk-Americaribe, said they are currently in communication with the Waste Management Authority for the disposal of material.

Additionally, the Coastal Zone Management Committee held a decision meeting Tuesday night and unanimously voted to approve CZT-04-03(L), a Yacht Haven Grande modification project to renovate the property’s existing pool deck, resurface the tennis court, construct two padel courts, three pergola seating areas, and expand the fenced area. Per approval, the committee required the applicant to allow neighboring children and adults an opportunity to learn tennis and pickleball.

CZM members Calford S. Martin, Vance E. Pinney, and Jawanza Hilaire were present.

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