Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley, the Ninth District Representative in the Virgin Islands, has praised the merger of the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) and the Water and Sewerage Department (W&SD) as nothing short of genius in addressing a long-standing problem. Photo: Youtube

The Cabinet of the Virgin Islands is debating the bill to merge BVIEC and W&SD to create a new entity, the Virgin Islands Energy and Water Corporation. This initiative aims to improve efficiency, reliability, and financial performance, with the government planning to repeal and replace the Water and Sewerage Authority Act to facilitate the merger. Photo: Internet Source

Hon Wheatley, during the Continuation of the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) on January 30, 2026, voiced his support for the Virgin Islands Energy and Water Corporation Bill, 2026, which proposes the merger.

He highlighted that one of the main challenges facing the current Water and Sewerage Department is access to funding. "Once it becomes statutory, they have the power to borrow or raise capital, and this is a key issue here for procurement."

The bill, currently being reviewed by a committee of the whole House, seeks to merge the two entities into a new organisation. Its goals include leveraging operational synergies, reducing startup costs compared to establishing a new utility, improving accountability, and addressing chronic water infrastructure issues. The initiative aims to streamline services and ensure sustainability.

Bill provides access to funding faster 

Hon Wheatley emphasised that faster access to funds and the ability to obtain necessary resources in a timely manner will enhance the efficiency of the system.

He remarked, "This merger is nothing less than genius for solving a very long problem. We look at the independent core producer, and I am going through this whole bill; it is very well thought out, and it creates opportunities. So that's a simple merger, just to solve the water problem."