The Virgin Islands: We Deserve More Than Survival. We Deserve Solutions.

I was born and raised on St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands. Although I left the island approximately 30 years ago, I have never stopped considering myself a Virgin Islander. My roots are there. My family history is there. And what happens in the Virgin Islands matters to me, regardless of where I live.

I have witnessed many changes throughout my lifetime. I remember growing up in a home without indoor plumbing. We had a dirt floor, and when nature called, we had to go outside. Eventually, we moved into an apartment with running water. That apartment was Ralph De Chabert which was right next door to the power plant in Christiansted.

I share those memories because I have seen progress. I know improvements are possible. But I also know that many of the challenges facing the Virgin Islands today are not new.

After all these years, why are residents still struggling with some of the same basic necessities?

This conversation is not about St. Croix alone. It is about the entire U.S. Virgin Islands: St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and the smaller surrounding islands.

The people who live there deserve reliable electricity and water, accessible healthcare, sound infrastructure, economic opportunity, and public officials who are accountable for the decisions they make.

We deserve more than survival. We deserve solutions.

WAPA: The cost of electricity and the cost of doing without it

The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, commonly known as WAPA, provides electricity and water services throughout the territory.

For years, residents have dealt with high utility bills, unreliable electricity, and outages that can last for hours or even days. Residents have reported monthly bills in the $400 to $500 range. Imagine paying that kind of money and still having to wonder whether the electricity will be available when you need it.

When the power goes out, the consequences extend far beyond sitting in the dark.

Refrigerators and freezers stop working. Groceries spoil. Businesses lose inventory and revenue. People who work from home cannot work. Residents who depend on electrically powered equipment face additional concerns. Families cannot maintain their normal routines.

And what about the money people lose when food has to be thrown away?

What about the inconvenience, the disruption, and the additional expenses incurred because a service people pay for is unavailable?

Residents have also expressed frustration about the lack of timely explanations, communication, and meaningful accountability when outages occur. Paying customers deserve more than silence and uncertainty.

This is not an isolated concern. The U.S. Government Accountability Office documented the territory's electricity challenges in its 2025 report, U.S. Territories: Public Debt and Economic Outlook. The report found that the average electricity price paid by Virgin Islands residents was approximately 42 cents per kilowatt-hour at the end of 2023, nearly three times the mainland U.S. average. It also identified aging infrastructure, deferred maintenance, inconsistent metering and billing, and frequent outages as significant concerns.

The report estimated WAPA's deferred maintenance at approximately $33 million and reported that its debt was about $238 million as of December 2024.

These are serious financial and operational problems. They deserve serious attention.

And they raise an important question: How much longer can residents be expected to absorb the financial consequences of a utility system that continues to struggle with reliability?

Two generating stations. One territory. A question of redundancy.

The Virgin Islands has two principal WAPA-owned generating stations:

Estate Richmond on St. Croix.

Randolph Harley on St. Thomas.

These two facilities provide more than 90% of the territory's electricity. St. Croix and St. Thomas operate separate electrical grids, while St. John receives electricity through an underwater cable connection from St. Thomas.

That arrangement raises important questions about the territory's ability to withstand equipment failures.

What happens when one or more major generating units become unavailable? How much backup capacity is available? How quickly can replacement parts be obtained? What contingency plans exist when multiple units fail at the same time?

The October 2026 outages in the St. Thomas–St. John district brought these questions into sharp focus.

On October 23, residents protested outside WAPA's Four Winds offices on St. Thomas. The demonstration followed repeated outages that disrupted households and businesses. Public schools and Executive Branch offices in the St. Thomas–St. John district also closed because of the power interruptions.

WAPA subsequently reported that Unit 27 had returned to service on October 26. However, the authority acknowledged that rotating outages were continuing at reduced levels because other generating units remained offline for repairs.

WAPA has also outlined longer-term projects, including additional standby generation for St. John, temporary backup generation, replacement of permanent generating equipment, solar development, and improvements to transmission and distribution infrastructure.

Those are important plans. But residents deserve to know whether the proposed timelines will be met, how the projects will be funded, and how the public will be able to measure their results.

I also want to raise a question about St. Croix.

Could additional generation, strategically located infrastructure, or other properly engineered backup solutions toward the western side of the island improve reliability? I am not suggesting that one particular location or facility is automatically the answer. I am asking whether the territory has fully evaluated every reasonable option to strengthen the system.

Why should the islands remain so vulnerable when generating capacity, backup systems, and alternative energy sources can be evaluated and planned?

We need a long-term energy strategy that does more than respond to the latest outage.

Electricity and water are connected

There is another part of this conversation that cannot be overlooked: water.

Many Virgin Islands homes rely on cisterns that collect rainwater from rooftops. Government and public-health materials estimate that approximately 90% of homes have active cisterns.

Those cisterns are an important part of daily life. But electricity is often needed to pump water from the cistern into the home.

So when the power goes out, a household can lose more than electricity. It can also lose access to water inside the home.

The territory also depends on water-production and distribution infrastructure. WAPA has acknowledged that water service in parts of St. Croix has been affected by drought conditions, increased demand, and aging distribution infrastructure.

This is why electricity, water, and infrastructure planning cannot be treated as separate conversations.

A reliable water supply, dependable pumping systems, adequate storage, and properly maintained distribution networks are essential.

Residents should not have to wonder whether they will have electricity and water on the same day.

Healthcare: Having a hospital is not the same as having access to all the care you need

This is one of the areas I feel deserves much more attention.

Let me be clear: St. Croix has a hospital. Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center is an important healthcare institution serving the island.

St. Thomas has Roy Lester Schneider Hospital and the Schneider Regional Medical Center system. St. John has the Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center.

But the existence of hospitals does not mean every specialty, procedure, or level of medical care is available on every island.

The hospital's own patient information explains that when a patient's required care cannot be provided at Juan F. Luis Hospital, the physician can arrange an island transfer to another facility.

That is an important distinction.

Residents who need specialized treatment may have to travel to St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, or the mainland. Sometimes that travel is necessary because the services, specialists, equipment, or facilities they need are not available locally.

Now consider the financial burden.

A person who is already dealing with a medical condition may also have to pay for transportation, lodging, meals, and other expenses. Family members may need to take time off work and travel with the patient.

What happens to someone who cannot afford to make that trip?

What happens to someone who does not have family members who can help?

What happens to someone who delays necessary care because the cost of leaving the island is simply beyond their means?

Healthcare should not depend on whether a person has enough money to travel.

I have personal reasons for raising this issue. My mother had to travel from St. Croix to St. Thomas for an eye doctor. I have also known families who had to travel to South Florida for medical appointments and services.

My mother also spoke about the possibility of bringing the expertise of an established medical institution, such as Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, to St. Croix after she recieved much needed care from that facility.

I believe that idea deserves serious consideration.

Could the Virgin Islands establish a partnership with a major mainland hospital system to bring more specialists, physicians, nurses, training, and advanced medical services to the territory?

Could such a partnership include visiting specialists, telemedicine, clinical training, and a structured arrangement to expand services locally?

Could it also create economic benefits?

Think about the possibilities: medical professionals coming to the islands, local employment, housing and rental opportunities, increased spending in local businesses, and more healthcare dollars remaining in the territory.

This would require careful planning, financial analysis, and an appropriate healthcare partner. But why shouldn't the territory explore it?

We should not accept a situation in which residents must routinely leave their homes and families to receive medical care that could potentially be made available closer to home.

And we must pay particular attention to people with limited financial resources. They should not be left behind simply because they cannot afford to travel for treatment.

Infrastructure: Why should residents have to keep asking for the basics?

Infrastructure affects nearly every part of daily life.

Roads, drainage, electricity, water distribution, public buildings, schools, hospitals, transportation, and communications all contribute to the quality of life in a community.

I have concerns about the differences in infrastructure and public services between St. Croix and St. Thomas. These are concerns that deserve a transparent, island-by-island review.

Residents should be able to see how infrastructure funding is distributed, which projects are prioritized, what improvements are scheduled, and whether the work is being completed.

Are the islands receiving equitable attention?

Are roads and drainage systems being maintained consistently? Are public facilities being upgraded? Are water and electrical systems receiving the investments they need? Are projects being delayed because of funding, planning, procurement, or management problems?

The public should not have to rely on rumors or guesswork to understand what is happening.

We need a comprehensive infrastructure plan for the entire territory, with clear priorities, realistic timelines, public reporting, and accountability.

And we need to make sure St. John is not overlooked simply because it has a smaller population.

Economic development: Tourism cannot be the only answer

Tourism is important to the Virgin Islands. It brings visitors, supports businesses, and provides employment.

But an economy that depends too heavily on one industry is vulnerable.

The Government Accountability Office has also identified the territory's dependence on tourism as an economic risk, even though visitor numbers had recovered beyond pre-pandemic levels by 2023 and 2024.

We need to ask what else the Virgin Islands can develop.

What industries can provide stable employment? What can be manufactured locally? What opportunities exist in agriculture, technology, renewable energy, healthcare, marine industries, and other areas?

St. Croix has a history of industrial activity. The Limetree Bay refinery was ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency to pause operations in May 2021 following incidents that presented serious public-health and environmental concerns.

The refinery had been one of the territory's largest employers. The GAO reported that territory officials estimated reopening it would add approximately 1,000 jobs.

I am not suggesting that the refinery should reopen without addressing the environmental and public-health issues. Residents' health and safety must come first.

But the loss of a major employer reinforces the need to develop other sustainable sources of employment and revenue.

We also need to look at industries that already operate in the Virgin Islands.

Consider rum production.

Cruzan Rum has a long history on St. Croix. The distillery continues to produce rum there, but bottling and packaging are now done off-island.

Diageo's Captain Morgan distillery is also located on St. Croix. The company confirms that production from its St. Croix distillery is shipped off-island for bottling.

What additional economic opportunities could exist if more packaging, bottling, distribution, and related operations were retained locally?

How many additional jobs could be created? What infrastructure and workforce training would be needed? What incentives would encourage businesses to invest in more local operations?

These are legitimate economic-development questions.

We should be looking for ways to keep more of the value created in the Virgin Islands circulating within the Virgin Islands.

Economic development should not simply mean bringing visitors to the islands. It should mean creating an economy where residents can earn a living, build businesses, support their families, and see a future for their children.

What can we learn from other U.S. territories?

The Virgin Islands is not the only U.S. territory dealing with infrastructure and utility challenges.

Puerto Rico, for example, continues to face serious electricity reliability problems. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that in 2025, Puerto Rico customers experienced an average of 36 hours of power interruptions unrelated to major events such as hurricanes.

That does not excuse the problems in the Virgin Islands. It demonstrates that island energy systems require serious investment, planning, and accountability.

We should also remember that assistance and cooperation across jurisdictions can make a difference.

Following Hurricane Maria in 2017, the Western Area Power Administration—which is part of the U.S. Department of Energy and is entirely separate from the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, despite sharing the acronym WAPA—sent approximately two dozen linemen to assist with power restoration in the Virgin Islands. Seven were members of IBEW Local 1245 from the agency's Sierra Nevada region. The team was stationed in St. Thomas for approximately two months.

That is an example of federal resources and outside expertise being brought in to help the territory.

Why shouldn't we continue exploring partnerships, technical assistance, and mutual-aid arrangements that could help strengthen our infrastructure?

The territory should not have to solve every problem alone.

What needs to happen?

I am not simply pointing out problems. I am asking for a coordinated plan that addresses them.

Here are some priorities that deserve serious attention:

Independent financial and operational oversight of WAPA. Examine contracts, spending, debt, billing practices, fuel procurement, maintenance, management, and the use of federal funding.

A reliable energy system. Modernize aging generating equipment, improve backup capacity, evaluate additional generation, expand renewable energy and battery storage, and strengthen transmission and distribution infrastructure.

Reliable water service. Address aging water distribution systems, drought-related challenges, water production, storage, and the connection between electricity and water access.

Equitable infrastructure investment. Publish a territory-wide plan showing the needs, funding, priorities, and timelines for St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.

Improved healthcare access. Explore partnerships with established medical institutions to expand specialty care, attract medical professionals, improve training, and reduce unnecessary off-island travel.

Economic diversification. Develop opportunities beyond tourism, including manufacturing, local packaging and bottling, agriculture, healthcare, renewable energy, and other sustainable industries.

Transparency in public spending. Make audits, contracts, project updates, and financial reports accessible and understandable to residents.

Accountability for results. When audits and investigations identify problems, the public deserves to know what corrective action is being taken and whether it is working.

These are not unreasonable expectations. They are basic responsibilities of institutions entrusted with public resources and public service.

To our elected officials, candidates, and oversight agencies

I have questions for the 15 members of the Virgin Islands Legislature, those seeking elected office, and the institutions responsible for oversight and accountability.

To our sitting senators: What have you done to address these longstanding problems?

What legislation have you introduced? What oversight hearings have you requested? What questions have you asked WAPA? What efforts have you made to secure federal assistance? What have you done to address healthcare limitations and infrastructure needs?

What results can you point to?

To those seeking public office, including Julian Vera and the other candidates aspiring to serve: What are your plans?

What will you do about WAPA? What will you do to improve healthcare? What is your plan for infrastructure, economic development, and public accountability?

What specific actions will you take, and how will residents know whether you have delivered?

Leadership is not something that begins on the day someone is sworn into office.

You don't have to wait until you're elected to start working for the people you want to represent.

To the Virgin Islands Office of the Inspector General and the Virgin Islands Public Services Commission: These local institutions have important oversight and regulatory responsibilities. What reviews, audits, investigations, or regulatory actions have been undertaken within your respective authority? What findings have been made public? What corrective actions have been recommended or required?

I also want to be clear about the steps I have personally taken.

I have written to federal offices in Washington, D.C., and to our congressional delegate, Stacey E. Plaskett.

The federal offices I contacted are:

U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Inspector General

U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs

Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett, Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives for the Virgin Islands.

I have not yet sent letters to the local Virgin Islands Office of the Inspector General or the Public Services Commission. However, I believe their responsibilities make them important parts of this conversation.

To the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Inspector General: What oversight or investigative review is appropriate within your jurisdiction concerning federal funds, programs, and activities affecting the Virgin Islands?

To the Office of Insular Affairs: What federal resources, technical assistance, and coordination can be brought to bear on the territory's infrastructure and economic challenges?

To Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett: What additional federal attention, oversight, resources, and coordination can be pursued on behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands?

I recognize that these offices have different responsibilities and limitations. I am not suggesting that every office has authority over every problem. I am asking each to use the authority it does have, identify where additional action is needed, and help ensure that legitimate concerns reach the appropriate agencies.

I am also not making accusations of wrongdoing without evidence. Concerns about mismanagement, the use of public funds, and the lack of accountability deserve independent examination. Where questions arise, audits and investigations should establish the facts.

The public deserves more than acknowledgments that problems exist. We deserve to know what is being done to correct them.

And to the people of the Virgin Islands

We cannot leave these conversations entirely to politicians and government agencies.

Residents have a right to ask questions. We have a right to attend public meetings, examine budgets, request information, question candidates, and demand updates.

Do not wait until election season to ask what your representatives have accomplished.

Do not settle for campaign promises without specific plans.

Ask how projects will be funded, who will be responsible, when the work will be completed, and how success will be measured.

This is not about political parties or personalities. It is about the quality of life of the people who live in the Virgin Islands.

I may have been away from St. Croix for approximately 30 years, but distance has not erased my connection to the place where I was born and raised.

I want to see the Virgin Islands thrive.

I want residents to have dependable electricity and water. I want people to have access to quality healthcare without being financially burdened by the need to travel elsewhere. I want roads, public facilities, and essential infrastructure that reflect the needs of the communities they serve.

I want young people to have opportunities to build careers and businesses at home. I want public resources managed responsibly. And I want the people who are entrusted with leadership and oversight to be accountable for their decisions.

The Virgin Islands has people, resources, history, talent, and potential. What is needed is a serious commitment to making that potential work for the people who call these islands home.

We deserve more than explanations about why things cannot be done. We deserve practical solutions, responsible management, and measurable results.

And to those who aspire to represent us:

You don't have to wait until you're elected to start working for the people you want to represent.

I'm just saying, I got issues. What about you? 🦋