35th Legislature of The Virgin Islands to Convene Emergency Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance Hearing and Legislative Session Next Week to Address WAPA’s Current Financial Predicament

Senate President Novelle E. Francis, Jr. and Senator Donna Frett-Gregory, Chair of the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance (“Finance Committee”) announced today there will be an emergency meeting of the Finance Committee and an emergency Legislative Session next week to address the financial predicament facing the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (“WAPA”) which has resulted in territory wide power outages.
The Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 and subsequently a Legislative Session will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2024. “As the holder of the government’s purse strings, the Legislature needs a clear picture about the cause of the financial predicament that WAPA again faces and WAPA’s plan to resolve it,” said Frett-Gregory. “As Chair of the Finance Committee, we must be fiscally responsible in how we address this ongoing problem while we work to find a sustainable resolution in the long-term.”

After taking testimony in the Finance Committee, Senate President Novelle E. Francis, Jr. will convene a Legislative Session to consider recommendations made as a result of the hearing. “This matter with WAPA, while not new, impacts the safety, wellbeing, and livelihood of our residents and directly affects our economy,” stated President Francis. “Hopefully next week all parties will be prepared to answer tough questions as we move to address this current matter,” concluded President Francis.

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