Did You Know? Vol1 Ed1: WAPA Governing Board
Did you know the 9 member WAPA governing board includes 7 individuals selected by Governor deJongh, to include 3 cabinet members and 4 individuals from the private sector?
The nine member WAPA Governing Board
- Cheryl Boynes-Jackson: Chairwoman of the Governing Board; Private sector; Member of the Finance Committee
- Juanita Young: Secretary; Private Sector; Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee
- Alphonso Franklin: Vice Chair; Private sector; Chair of the Planning and Economic Development Committee (note: Mr. Franklin recently announced his retirement; he will serve until replaced by the Governor)
- St. Clair Williams: Sports, Parks & Recreation Commissioner; Member of the Finance Committee
- Kenneth Hermon, Jr: Director of Personnel; Member of the Finance Committee
- Brenda Benjamin: Private sector; Member of the Planning Committee
- Noel Loftus: Private sector; Member of the Planning Committee & the Finance Committee
- Donald Francois: Private sector; Member of the Planning Committee & the Finance Committee
- Robert Mathes: Planning & Natural Resources Commissioner; Member of the Planning Committee
Taking this into consideration, what new ideas or policy changes has this new board implemented at WAPA? What are the short term and long term plans for improving plant efficiency?
A group of organizations will be hosting a town meeting with WAPA and the PSC as their guests. It is scheduled for Sunday, February 10th, 2008 at the St. Croix Educational Complex from 4pm to 6pm. For more details, click here to view the circulated flyer.
This is disgraceful and should be more widely publicized. The board is stacked with his supporters.
It is clear why we, the little people, are hurting. As you well know DeJongh is for the wealthy,and he has stacked the board
with people who will carry out his wishes. Of course all of this was said before he was elected, but people voted for him anyway. Now the poor is suffering and the wealthy are benefitting. Remember people saying that would happen? Now it is
happening and unfortunately we have 2 more years of suffering. At the end of his term, I hope that Virgin Islanders will be able to remain on the islands and that we can call the islands home. Who is running these islands and who will be running these islands by the time DeJongh is voted out of office. What will
he leave for Virgin Islanders after he has given away the kitchen? Think about it!!!!
well what past administration actually did anything about anything here, it’s getting to be like louisiana here half of our ex officials are in jail and the other half are under indictment, and please spare me the “little people”comments you little people are the ones that keep electing corrupt senators because you hope he/she can get you a government job, you little people in the past have just accepted the fact that poor schools,out of control birthrates, welfare,corruption at all levels,poor roads,nepotism,cronyism and greed are all accepted norms here
and one last thought, you made your bed now lie in it.
I agree with ladlie to an extent.
1) The Governor can’t be blamed for this. The problem is the legislation that structures theses different boards and commissions. The Board of the Public Finance Authority and the Economic Development Authority is the same foolishness.
2) Most people around here tend to casts their votes based on who has the most bnumpers stickers, the most posters, who holds the most fish frys, and the biggest free jams. When we start casting our votes based on the candidates’ platform, position on critical issues, and past performance (for incumbents) we will begin to get true representation. If you cast your vote based on anything other than the best interest of the Virgin Islands, then shut up and deal with the inadequate representation that has become the norm around here. Keep the pressure on elected officials. When the retro checks come out a month or so before the elections, don’t allow it to cloud your recollection of the UNACCEPTABLE REPRESENTATION that we’ve been reciving since the LAST ELECTION
P.s. I am Dwane callwood and I approved this message.
Stacking could be a good thing for the VI. Perhaps, the governor could use his influence on the board to implement beneficial changes to WAPA. I think we would all agree that WAPA is in trouble.
I agree. WAPA is in a crisis and needs immediate attention. Let’s hope the board knows what the Governor’s policy is (if there is one). It appears they didn’t know it late last year.
I just read on Demmansay.com that the staff/supporters of Gov. deJongh has solicited the services of a law firm to develop personal profiles on Virgin Islanders. This is frigtening, dangerous and un-american. Not too long ago, President Bush attempted to develop profiles on citizens under the guise of protecting Americans from terrorist. Citizens and civil liberties org. were in an uproar. America/VI is a free country/ territory and we must be able to function freely without secret survillance. I hope this is not true. I really hope this is not happening. I hope we continue to monitor this situation and speak out for our rights as citizens. This is a dangerous issue that requires serious attention. We cannot sit back and let that happen.
In the same vain, I also learned that Deemmansay website is being threatened, investigated and harassed. Why? Because of free speech? This too is dangerous and un-american. They are protected by the first amendment and entitled to educate, inform and
interact with others. I have found the articles on Demmansay website to be credible and backed up by documentation and other public documents. What is the problem? The information on their site is public and anyone can do the research and find the same informaation that they put on their site. On my own, I have done research to check out their credibility since I had heard it was a melle and gossip site. The information always checked out. As a matter of fact, they seem to be well educated, accurate and well informed. The function of websites is to inform and educate. Facts are facts. I focus on facts and accuracy. I don’t know the Administrators of the website, but they seem educated and I support them. Intimidation, threats and the inclination to silence the website is not acceptable. Why stoop so low because you don’t like what you are hearing or you disagree with what is being presented. Let us protect our rights of free speech and without intimidation. I am going to follow these actions closely.
i quite enjoy the demmansay site, but since it offers no solutions to anything,only criticisms i consider it the “court jester”site, when the site starts offering solutions then i’ll take it seriously
We appreciate your comments, Ladlie. However there is a focused efforts on the part of many to discredit our website. Contrary to how things may seem to you, we do offer solutions. However, in the interest of what’s best for the VI, we funnel those suggestions through various parties within and outside the Administration. if we were to publish our suggestions, they would be taken off of the table merely because they came from us. Any ideas that we publish and are subsequently adopted would help to give our website even more credibility, and that happens to be the LAST thing elected officials want to do. So have no fear, we are working on making this a better Virgin islands. We are not interested in taking credit for anything positive that happens around here, so it doesn’t phase us to have others enjoy the limelight. Thanks for voicing your opinion. this is the type of intellectual dialouge we are continually striving to stimulate
these virgin islands has fallen into the hands of
a vindictive tyrant, he lost the election in 2002,
now he has come back with blood in his eyes for those
of us who did not vote for him.
little that he knows that we are watching every move
he makes. we will make sure that he will be a one term
governor.
your buddies at vi destroy hope will not be there for
you,not even your good friend jeffrey epstien.
all your high power attorney friends who is eating
lobster tails with you will soon realize that you
are nothing but a big [dummy] who dresses in tight
suits.
Did you listen to the representative from the West Indies Power company on Sam Topp’s show? He was in the VI to discuss linking up the VI with Nevis and Saba to provide power to us at a cheaper rate using Geothermal Energy. This could be something that the board can address.
I agree with Kendrick that Demmansay.com board
respond to the suggestion that the V. I.link up with Nevis and Saba to provide us with electricity. This is a good opportunity for Demmansay’s board to ptovide a solution to a problem. Or, you can provide your own recommendations. Look forward to hearing from you.
There seems to be solutions on this site. What ever happened to the pre-election solutions the Governor had. Why does he need to move the energy office to lower energy consumption in the VI Government. Just direct the commissioners to ensure all lights are turned off in the evening and all air conditioners are set to 78 degrees. This should have been a directive in the 1st month of the governor’s tenure. If the government can’t afford to pay WAPA, it needs to cut costs just as everyone else is forced to do.
Free yourselves from wapa’s grip. Current wapa rates are criminal. USVI is paying more for energy than on ANY OTHER US SOIL. The time is now for renewable energy. SOlar power is the answer. It may be a burdon to pay for a system for 8-10 years, but you can free yoursevles from the grip of wapa bills and get free energy for 40 years after the system is paid off. As for the power play on the WAPA board….vote wisely next time.