Oriental customers can access their accounts using any of the following convenient methods:
Oriental-Bank in Puerto Rico
– Online Banking and Mobile Banking – check account balances, make payments, transfer funds, verify transactions and send money to other people. Our new Online Service Portal offers you all the benefits of online banking plus the ability to make loan payments, check loan balances, request payoff letters and more. Mobile Banking offers all of the online banking functions plus the ability to deposit checks using a smartphone camera.
– Phone Customer Service Center – Customers can check balances, make payments, transfer funds between accounts, and verify the status of their transactions and paid checks. To contact the Service Center, call our toll-free number 1-800-981-5554, open from 7:00am -1:00pm.
– Make Loan Payments Online – Customers can make payments through ‘My Payments’ for personal loans, car loans and leases, even if they do not have a deposit account with Oriental. Customers can access ‘My Payments’ at orientalbank/usvi.com.
– Automated Telephone Services: Call 1-866-622-6800 to check account balances, transfers, recent transactions and other services.
– ATM Services – Customers can make deposits using the Branch ATM until 9:00pm daily and receive the same benefits as depositing with a teller at the branch. You can also check account balances, make withdrawals, transfer funds between accounts and change your PIN.
All non-branch Oriental ATMs allow customers to check balances, make withdrawals and transfer funds between accounts.
No Kings rallygoers line the promenade Saturday in downtown Charlotte Amalie. (Photo courtesy Jane Higgins)
Despite driving rain and power outages to contend with, some 200 people turned out Saturday for the No Kings rally on St. Thomas — the third such protest since President Donald Trump took office in 2025, with corresponding rallies held on St. Croix and St. John.
St Thomas Indivisible organizer Jane Higgins reported that many hundreds gave a thumbs up or honked their horns as they drove by the rally on the waterfront promenade, across from the courthouse in downtown Charlotte Amalie.
“There will be continuous No Kings rallies across the USA until our Democracy is saved by the millions of resister citizens,” said Higgins in an emailed message.
On the mainland, and in cities across the world, millions of people took to the streets to protest Trump’s second term, including the war in Iran, the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files, the erosion of democratic norms, and the administration’s crackdown on immigration.
“Many thanks to our DJ Petty Jazzman Group for playing all the well-known freedom songs, including Power to the People and Mississippi GD,” said Higgins, adding that the rally was filled with dancing, joy and a strong sense of community.
The national No Kings organization will hold a community “mass call” on Tuesday at 8 p.m. with movement leaders and local activists to “celebrate this historic mobilization, and get plugged into what comes next.” To RSVP, visit nokings.org.
The signs say it all at the No Kings rally Saturday on St. Thomas. (Photo courtesy Jane Higgins)A No Kings rally participant gets the attention of passing motorists during the protest Saturday on St. Thomas. (Photo courtesy Jane Higgins)
Protestors hold their signs high at the No Kings rally Saturday on St. Thomas. (Photo courtesy Jane Higgins)
Bajo el Sol Gallery is pleased to present Shifting Roots, Fluid Horizons, a group exhibition featuring internationally exhibited artists Sigi Torinus, José Seone, and Janet Cook-Rutnik. The exhibition explores how place and memory shape ways of seeing and being.
Interior by Sigi Torinus
Opening Reception: Saturday, April 4 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
“In Shifting Roots, Fluid Horizons, the work of Janet Cook-Rutnik, Sigi Torinus, and José Seoane converges as a dynamic dialogue between three creative and established practices that continue to evolve. Each artist persistently challenges their own boundaries—at times in quiet isolation, and at others through shared creative exchange. Together, their works reflect on fragile environments, lives in flux, where identity and place are continuously reshaped through processes of migration and transculturation. This exhibition is both a meditation and a conversation”— curator, Priscilla Hintz Rivera
Cage by Sigi Torinus
Each artist brings a distinct, yet interconnected perspective rooted in experience and ecological awareness. Together their works reinforce a sense of identity grounded in place while remaining fluid, evolving, and responsive to change.
Sigi Torinus presents new media installations and immersive visual language in a body of work that occupies the space between the underwater and sky, holding moments of sinking and surfacing, nearness and distance, and quiet suspension.
Peace On Earth by Janet Cook-Rutnik
Born and raised in the Virgin Islands, Torinus studied Art and Philosophy, earning her MFA from the Braunschweig Art Institute in Germany and San Francisco State University. Her work reflects migration and movement, using light and sound in poetic, playful ways.
José Seoane, a Cuban–Canadian artist living part-time on St. John, explores transculturation and diasporic identity through hybrid works that merge painting, sculpture, and time-based media. In this exhibition, he repurposes bird cages with organic materials alongside watercolor abstractions, creating layered compositions that evoke memory, displacement, and belonging.
Lucy in the Sky Janet Cook-Rutnik
Janet Cook-Rutnik, who has lived and worked in the Virgin Islands since 1969, presents Orgánica, a series incorporating handmade paper and upcycled materials. Her multidisciplinary practice—spanning painting, sculpture, printmaking, video, and public art—engages deeply with Virgin Islands history and environment. In this body of work, she emphasizes sustainability and transformation, reimagining discarded materials as renewed forms.
The opening reception will take place on Saturday, April 4, from 4–7 PM and will feature live music by emerging artist Adeline Shaw.
Artwork by Sigi Torinus
Bajo El Sol Gallery is home to thought-provoking monthly exhibitions, readings by award winning V.I. writers & poets, documentary screenings on some of the Caribbean’s most respected thinkers, as well as talks by local academics and visiting curators. The gallery is in Mongoose Junction, St. John a 5min walk from the Cruz Bay ferry.
WAPA plant personnel are making significant progress in restarting the power plant. Restoration for some customers is estimated within 90 minutes (12:45 pm). At this time, we do not anticipate that a rotation schedule will be needed, pending the successful restoration of all customers.
The family of Alma ‘Grete’ Parsons Dawson regret to announce her passing on March 21, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. She was born on Tortola on Jan. 18, 1954. She was a resident of St. Thomas, then relocated to St. John, before moving to Florida in 2020.
Alma Parsons Dawson
She was the youngest daughter of Emmaline Nibbs Parsons of Sea Cows Bay and Nehemiah Parsons of Brewers Bay, Tortola.
She is survived by her three sons Craig, Avery, and Kimo Dawson and two daughters Khania Dawson Burroughs and Shania Dawson; daughters in law Shennice Joseph, Elaine Leslie Dawson and son in law Jeff Burroughs.
She was preceded in death by two grandchildren: K’Emani and Cairo Dawson.
She also leaves behind nine great grandchildren: DeMauni Chitole, Melaney Joseph, Caylee Dawson; Amara Brown; Shakimo, Ohana, Solana, Soleia Dawson and Tashawn Hudson Jr.
Alma’s siblings are Stanley, Rudelle, Glandwell “Skip”, Kenneth and Doris Parsons, Bernice Monsanto and Clarence Dawson. She was preceded in death by her brothers Reginald and Carl Parsons and sister, Annetta Parsons McClean.
She is survived by her former husband E. ‘Bionic’ Dawson and numerous extended close family members of the Nibbs, Parsons and Dawson families and friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing at 9 a.m. and funeral service will follow at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 9 at the Wesley Methodist Church on St. Thomas; followed by a Memorial Service on Friday, April 10 at 11:30 a.m. in the chapel of Majestic Funeral Home on Tortola, and interment at the Methodist Cemetery in Road Town, Tortola.
Arrangements Entrusted to Turnbull’s Funeral Home & Crematory Services and Majestic Life Funeral Home.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Claudet V. Hamilton on March 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas.Claudet was born April 6, 1950 on the Island of Montserrat and lived on the Island of St. Croix for more than 40 years.
Claudet V. Hamilton
She was proceeded in death by her ex-husband James Hamilton and her daughter Ruthlyn Hamilton.
She is survived by her children, Inez, James Jr. Stedmond and Gloria Hamilton, brothers Samuel, Rolston, Kingsley and Franklyn Jones and her sister Barbra Jones and numerous other friends and relatives on St. Croix and the USA.
She lived a life dedicated to faith and family. A farewell ceremony will be held on Saturday April 4 at Truth Church 910 Old Atascocita Rd., Huffman, TX 77336
Carlos Sterling, born to Carlos Sterling Berten and Julia Pizarro Rivera on May 12, 1942, passed away on March 15, two months shy of completing his 84th trip around the sun.
Carlos Sterling
He was closely preceded in death on Oct. 7, 2025, by his wife of 59 years, Ellen Francisca Sterling, and his brother-in-law, Antonio Brown, on March 8, 2026.
He is survived by siblings, Angela Sterling Pizarro, Priscilla Rivera, Milagros Rivera, Maria de los Angeles Rivera, Carlos Juan Sterling, Jorge “Georgie” Sterling, Fidel Sterling; children and stepchildren, Aaron Sterling, Angela Sterling, Ricky Brown, Aubon Brown, Victor Brown; grandchildren, Melissa Hendel, Anthony Maceo Sterling, Alycia Fewins, Shawday Fewins, Latricia Rounds, Chetoya Brown Walcott, Nagid Brown, Leron Brown, Levon Brown, Victor Brown, Jr., Lelaunie Brown, Linzey Brown; great-grandchildren, Omari Iles, Kaden Walcott, Saiya Brown, Kaih Marrero; son-in-law, Raymond Garcia; daughter-in-law, Tami Fewins Sterling; sisters-in-law, Carmen Walters, Elvira Assent Henry; cousins, Margarita Sterling, Victor Sterling, Myrna Sterling, Leticia “Letty” Bryant, Ronald “Ronnie” Bryant, Esteban Iturbe Sterling, Ivan Martinez, Awilda Sterling, Victor Manuel Sterling, Rafael Rosa Sterling, Pedro L Sterling, Luis A. Larregui, Selma Ithier, Ingracia Karlo; nieces and nephews, Caroline Sterling, Jessica Sterling, Janet Sterling, Lyneisha Sterling; Cesar Sterling, Luis Rosario, Benjamin Rosario; other extended family, Shiela Springette, Natalie Richards, Delores Brown, Yvonne Walters, Carol Howell, Lorraine Cavanaugh, June Gordon, Velma Assent Johnson, June B. Brown, Ann Marie Brown, Molly Brown, Nicole Brown, Jean Brown, Khadijah Muhammad, Marcia Maccow – Simmons, Wendy Brown, Genelle A. Walters Richards, Crystal George – Thomas, Delores ‘Kate’ Scavetta, Sally Brown, Khalia Brown; nephews-in-law, John ‘Billy’ Brown, Keith Brown, Eversley ‘Laffy’ Brown, Earl ‘Kenya’ Brown, Ron Brown, Stevie Brown, David Brown, Jr., Hugh Brown, David Brown, Mark Walters, Michael Maccow, Malcolm Maccow, Antonio Brown, Jr., Conrad Brown, Dwight Brown, Keith Brown, Glen Herbert; special friends, Irma St. Val, Lera James, Christina Rudinsky, The Nico family, Clarissa Chapman, JoAnn George, Roy Johnson, Dr. Rhoda Zione Alale, The Cherubin Family, Pastor Bernard and Family, May Joseph Family, Joyce Abrahamson, Victor Rojas Family, Carlos J. Alvarado, Dr Cesar Detres, Elena Azcona, Elba Bristol, Brother Clarke & Mrs. Clarke, George and Sandra Cannon, Farrington Cannon, Jerry and Betty Weninger, Enid De Freites, The Bahai Faith Communities of St. Croix and St. Thomas, Mona Bastien, Virginia Johnson, Murali Alagudu and his Hovensa family; other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Funeral service will be held on Friday, April 10, at James Memorial Chapel, Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI. Viewing will begin at 10 a.m. with service beginning at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Kingshill Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.
As we conclude the first quarter of 2026, the global energy crisis driven in part by ongoing conflict in the Middle East is expected to further strain affordability across the Virgin Islands. Rising fuel costs will continue to ripple through our economy, increasing the price of electricity, food, transportation, and everyday living. For many families, the pressure is already real.
And yet, I am still hopeful. Virgin Islanders have never been defined by crisis. We have always been defined by how we respond to it. We have faced hardship before. And time and again, we have risen to the occasion.
Reflecting on our past is not an exercise in nostalgia; it is a reminder of what we are capable of. My own story, rooted right here in the Virgin Islands, shapes my belief in who we are and what we can achieve together.
I remember growing up in Hospital Ground (round-deh-field) on St. Thomas, spending afternoons at my father’s auto mechanic garage. The sounds of engines, the smell of oil and metal, and the constant movement of people left a lasting impression. My siblings and I ran a small shop nearby, selling snacks to help cover basic needs like school uniforms. We were young, but we understood responsibility. We understood hustle. We understood that if we wanted something, we had to work for it.
Later, in the Donoe Housing Community, I saw that same resilience in my mother. She worked tirelessly at Tropical Shipping and the University of the Virgin Islands to provide for our family. But we were never alone. Neighbors looked out for us. The community stepped in where needed. There was an unspoken understanding that we take care of each other. That was the Virgin Islands I knew. And while times were not easy, there was something powerful that carried us through, trust in one another and confidence that together, we could overcome anything.
Today, that confidence is being tested. We are experiencing a period of slow recovery from the hurricanes of 2017, burdened by failing infrastructure, poor fiscal management, and, at times, a lack of clear priorities. Our energy system is unreliable and expensive. Our healthcare system is fragile. Schools are under-resourced. The cost of living continues to rise faster than we can keep up with.
And most concerning, public trust has eroded. When systems don’t work, when leadership lacks focus, and when progress feels stalled, people begin to lose faith. Our community begins to look elsewhere for opportunity, not because we want to leave, but because we feel we have no choice.
But I refuse to accept that as our future. Because the truth is we are not without solutions. What we have lacked is alignment, discipline, and the willingness to make tough decisions. If we are serious about improving quality of life in this territory, we must start with clear priorities and bold, decisive action.
We must confront our energy crisis head-on. Fixing our energy system is not optional; it is foundational. Reliable and affordable energy will reduce the cost of living, strengthen businesses, stabilize government operations, and restore confidence across every sector of our economy.
We must also commit to responsible fiscal management, spending wisely, planning strategically, and ensuring that every dollar delivers value to the people. We must rebuild our institutions, not just structurally, but ethically, restoring integrity, transparency, and accountability in how we govern. And we must invest intentionally in our people, through quality education, accessible healthcare, and pathways to economic opportunity.
None of this will be easy. It will require discipline. It will require sacrifice. And it will require leadership that is willing to make hard choices, not popular ones, but necessary ones.
But I remain hopeful because I see the spirit of the Virgin Islands alive every day. I see it when neighbors check on elders during power outages. I see it when teachers go beyond their classrooms to support our children. I see it when community organizations come together to lift others in times of need.
That spirit has never left us. It is our foundation and it is our path forward. We can build a Virgin Islands defined by reliability, opportunity, and integrity. A Virgin Islands where systems work, where families can afford to live, and where future generations can thrive without having to leave home.
But hope alone will not get us there. Hope must be matched with action. Vision must be backed by execution. And leadership must be rooted in accountability and results.
As we move through this year, I invite all of us to recommit—not just to believing in a better Virgin Islands, but to building it together. Because our history has already shown us what is possible. Now it is up to us to deliver.
Donna Frett Gregory,
—Donna Frett-Gregory served as Senator in the 33rd, 34th, and 35th Legislatures of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Beyond public service, Frett-Gregory is the Chief Operating Officer of PivotPoint Strategies and executive director of DFG Community Impact Foundation of the Virgin Islands, a Non-profit organization.
In my previous Op-Ed, published on Dec. 27, 2023 in the Source and on February 8, 2024 in the Daily News, I proposed for the Government Employee Retirement System (GERS) to transition from a Defined Benefit system to a Defined Contribution system. This transition would shift ownership of risk from GERS to the individual, but I believe it is risk most of us, especially young professionals, would prefer to own as the benefits outweigh the risk by far.
To illustrate this point, I’ve outlined the policy and two different scenarios – a current Tier 2 government employee (like myself), and a younger, potentially Tier 3 (based on my policy proposal), government employee (like a GVI Fellow). Us two government employees meet at a bar. BRAM is playing loudly in the background, but we were still able to have an intelligible conversation.
I begin the conversation by revealing that I, as a Tier 2 government employee, currently contribute $840 per month into GERS. That’s the statutorily required 11.5% of my income (annual salary of $95,000, although deductions only occur up to $65,000 of annual salary). Based on the current structure of the GVI’s pension system, my retirement income from GERS will be $42,088 per year before taxes and deductions. I also shared that I won’t be able to retire until I’m 65 years old (approximately 37 years of service), which is the year I’d be able to claim my pension benefits.
The younger, Tier 3 government employee’s eyes opened widely in apparent shock. They then proceeded to explain their retirement outlook to me as a Tier 3 Government employee.
As a GVI Fellow (fresh out of college), they told me that they currently earn $55,000 per year. As a Tier 3 government employee, they are contributing $423 per month to the GERS’s defined contribution plan (403b investment account with positions in a low-cost S&P 500 index fund). Including the Government’s match contributions, the total monthly contribution is $846.
Assuming the GVI Fellow has a retirement outlook of 40 years (approximately 62-63 years old), their total contributions of $406,080 would be worth $4,695,594 before taxes and deductions! My eyes opened widely in apparent, disgusted shock! I felt cheated and misled as I was consistently told that the GVI pension system was “generous.” They further shared that this account balance would safely provide retirement income of $187,800 per year for the rest of their lives without affecting principal.
This scenario assumes they never increase their income, which is unlikely, and it also assumes the average annual nominal return of the S&P500, which is 10%.
As the BRAM continued to play in the background, I told them I am going to GERS to request an immediate change from a Tier 2 employee to a Tier 3 employee first thing Monday morning!
*As a quick aside, if the GVI Fellow wanted to retire at 52 years old (30 years of service), their investments would be worth $1,745,165, allowing them an annual retirement income of $69,807 before taxes and deductions. With periodic salary increases, they could retire at 52 years old with even more income. If the Government offered a Roth 403b option, that income would be tax free.
After hearing about this amazing employment benefit, I realized that if I was a Tier 3 employee, 10% of my income would be $731 per month. Including the employer’s matching 10% contribution, that would be $1,462 per month being contributed to the 403b investment account with the same financial securities exposure as the GVI Fellow.
With a retirement outlook of 35 years, the total contributions of $614,040 would be worth $2,502,087 at the time of my retirement. This account balance would enable me to safely live off of $100,084 per year for the rest of my life without affecting principal and running out of money.
This assumes I never increased my income, and it also assumes a conservative, nominal annualized return of 7%. Again, the S&P 500 has an average nominal annualized rate of return of approximately 10%.
An annualized nominal return at 10% would be $4,969,032.47, allowing me an annual retirement income of $198,761!
We finished our drink and whined the night away while looking forward to our dignified retirement years after decades of public service.
*Another aside, based on conversations with many current retirees (retired between 10 and 30 years), GERS does not make cost of living adjustments (COLA).
The issues of unfunded pension liabilities is not unique to the Virgin Islands nor the United States; and I continue to believe and know that the Virgin Islands can be a leader in politics, the arts, and general human development as we continue to solve the problems of the day.
This is why I continue to advocate for the GVI to transition our retirement system from a Defined Benefit plan to a Defined Contribution plan as I am proposing. For the people of the Virgin Islands, the greatest benefit of the policy I’m proposing is the potential for the transfer of wealth that can occur once a retiree passes away.
Under our current system, there is no transfer of pension benefits to descendants or a spouse (unless a joint/survivor annuity contract is signed, which comes at a cost and is probably not the common option). Under a Defined Contribution plan, descendants will be able to inherit the retiree’s assets after death.
The GVI is currently the largest employer in the Territory, this would have a vast and lasting impact on the financial health of our society.
The benefit to GERS is administrative. Managing a pension system is extremely difficult. With this policy proposal, risk would transfer to the individual. Although this might scare some people, the benefits far outweigh the risks.
In financial markets, risk is inversely related to time. Additionally, the risk of an unfunded liability would progressively become non-existent. The benefit to the Government is also extremely impactful.
With a 2023 published Full Time Equivalent of 7,254 employees and an average salary of $44,065, the Government could save approximately $49,545,842 per year.
These savings can be used to increase teacher salaries, fix roads, pay brokerage and fund fees, or stabilize the pension system.
Community, what are the goals of this policy initiative?
1) Financial Benefits (Decreasing Government Debt while Increasing Employee Take Home and Retirement Income)
2) Promotion of Long-Term Civic Service
3) Promotion of Local, Generational Wealth-Building
4) Avoiding Economic Collapse due to Government Default on Pension Liabilities
5) Attracting and Retaining Quality and Competitive Human Talent
6) Investment in the Virgin Islands
Time is the greatest factor in building wealth, and this is why we need to act now.
—Malachi Thomas is a community advocate living in the Virgin Islands.
Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. urged residents to “bear with us” as outages continued across St. Thomas and St. John Monday, with repairs underway and a major contract tied to stabilizing the territory’s power system still pending.
Speaking at his weekly press briefing Monday, Bryan acknowledged the strain of the repeated blackouts and rotations, calling the past two weeks “absolutely hell” for residents, but said ongoing questions about declaring a state of emergency miss the core issue. He said such a declaration is typically used to unlock funding or bypass procurement, neither of which he believes is limiting the response at this stage.
Instead, Bryan said he directed WAPA to move forward with repairs and not delay work over cost concerns, telling officials to “give me the bill” and focus on fixing the system, with the government determining how to cover the cost as work progresses. He also indicated a preference to manage the response locally rather than triggering broader emergency mechanisms, particularly given uncertainty around federal response and timelines.
WAPA officials have said pressure has been building for months at the Randolph Harley Power Plant on St. Thomas, where multiple units have been offline, leaving the system with little room to absorb additional failures. Two of the plant’s largest legacy units — Unit 23 and Unit 27 — have been offline since May and December 2025, respectively, while Unit 15, installed in 1980 and well beyond its expected lifespan, had been carrying much of the load before its recent failure.
Over the past week, WAPA Chief Executive Officer Karl Knight shared Unit 15 had been running continuously since September, unable to come offline for routine maintenance without risking broader outages. When it failed earlier this month due to an electrical fault, it removed a key stabilizing component from the grid, leaving the system short of capacity and forcing rotational outages.
Knight said crews were able to bring the unit back online temporarily last week, but it failed again within roughly 24 hours due to a separate issue involving its automated voltage regulator. He noted that some of the components required to complete repairs are no longer manufactured, complicating efforts to source replacements and extending repair timelines.
He added in a call with the Source after the presser that parts for Unit 27 have already been ordered and are expected on island in early April, with installation projected to take about a week. Unit 23 remains in a longer repair cycle, with critical components sent off-island for specialized work.
Meanwhile, Bryan’s comments Monday also prompted questions about where that money would come from, particularly after he said the government would foot the cost for repairs. Asked how the bill would be covered, Bryan said he would not use funds tied to the Epstein settlements, instead pointing to existing funding sources and other options available to the government.
Interestingly, he also noted that WAPA is in a stronger financial position now than in previous years, suggesting the authority could be able to manage the costs itself, while leaving open the possibility of working with the Legislature if additional support is needed.
At the same time, Bryan emphasized that the situation does not rise to the level of an emergency requiring special funding mechanisms, reiterating that resources exist and that the focus is on getting the work done.
When asked after the briefing why the outages persist if WAPA has the money, Knight said one of the primary constraints is time. He noted that parts for key units have already been ordered and are in process, but must be fabricated, shipped, and installed before they can bring additional capacity back online.
Knight said restoring the system is not immediate, even once parts arrive. When units trip, the grid must be brought back in stages, with generators restarted in sequence — a process that can take hours and is further complicated when other units fail to come online as expected.
He added that while the authority is addressing immediate repairs, it is also looking more broadly at system needs, including deferred maintenance across multiple units, which the government’s money could be used to address instead — or expedited shipping costs. Knight said WAPA is compiling cost estimates for that wider scope of work, which he expects to have within 24 to 48 hours, to also include the cost of a “new generator off the shelf.”
Running parallel to those repairs is the long-anticipated replacement of WAPA’s aging generation, a process that formally began in December when the V.I. Public Finance Authority selected Puerto Rico-based RG Engineering to lead design and pre-construction work for the territory’s power plants.
At the time, officials described the effort as a FEMA-funded “prudent replacement” of both the Randolph Harley Plant on St. Thomas and the Richmond Plant on St. Croix — a project expected to total more than $300 million. RG Engineering’s initial contracts for design and pre-construction services were valued at just under $7 million for each site, part of a progressive design-build approach intended to move the projects forward while final scopes and costs are refined.
According to the Office of Disaster Recovery, the solicitation drew multiple bids, but RG Engineering was selected in part for its familiarity with the territory and its ability to navigate permitting and construction challenges unique to the islands. Officials said the approach would allow work to advance in phases, rather than waiting for full design completion before mobilizing.
But while that selection marked a key step forward, the broader contract needed to move the project into execution — including the installation of temporary generation — has not yet been finalized.
At last week’s press briefing, Knight said WAPA and the Public Finance Authority are “tantalizingly close” to executing the next phase of the agreement, which would allow the Authority to begin deploying temporary generation while longer-term replacements are built. However, as of Monday, the Source was unable to determine a firm timeline for when the contract would be signed or what the holdup is at this point.
The delay is significant because temporary generation is built into that larger agreement. Knight said WAPA could pursue temporary power separately, but doing so would require launching a new procurement process — something the authority has opted not to do given how close negotiations are to completion.
That leaves WAPA managing outages while waiting on two parallel tracks: the arrival of parts needed to restore existing units, and the execution of a contract that would bring additional generation online. Asked Monday if this means residents are waiting another three months for a more stable grid, Bryan said he is hoping to see improvements as soon as Tuesday, but more realistically by the end of the week — adding, “this is just ridiculous now.”
Bryan also added that the situation reflects years of deferred maintenance now converging at once, requiring the territory to address multiple failures simultaneously. He pointed to broader investments already underway — including solar projects, battery storage, and the replacement of aging infrastructure — but acknowledged those efforts are also part of a longer timeline.
Addressing questions about whether a presidential disaster declaration or local emergency order could provide relief to residents affected by the outages, including those who have lost groceries or rely on power for medical needs, Bryan added that such mechanisms would offer limited direct assistance in this case. He noted that federal disaster declarations are typically tied to large-scale natural disasters and may not result in immediate or guaranteed support.
At the local level, he said some assistance is already being explored. The Human Services Department is working to provide relief through existing programs, including the potential reissuance of food assistance benefits for eligible residents affected by extended outages. But Bryan said broader compensation for losses, such as spoiled food, is not something a state of emergency would automatically provide.
Meanwhile, an extended outage that began around 8 p.m. Sunday lasted through early Monday afternoon before power was restored, only to go out again briefly around 3:30 p.m. WAPA said service was fully restored by about 5:15 p.m., attributing the disruptions in part to two Wartsila units that had gone offline within the previous 24 hours.
As we conclude the first quarter of 2026, the global energy crisis driven in part by ongoing conflict in the Middle East is expected to further strain affordability across the Virgin Islands. Rising fuel costs will continue to ripple through our economy, increasing the price of electricity, food, transportation, and everyday living. For many families, the pressure is already real.
