Hon Stacy R. Mather, OBE (AL) during Continuation of the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth HoA on Tuesday, February 3, 2025. Photo: YouTube/HoA

The Virgin Islands Electricity and Water Corporation Bill, 2026, seeks to merge the BVIEC and W&SD into a new entity. Photo: VINO/File

Members of the House of Assembly (HoA) continued their debate on the Virgin Islands Electricity and Water Corporation Bill, 2026, at the Continuation of the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth HoA on Tuesday, February 3, 2025. 

The bill seeks to merge the BVIEC and W&SD into a new entity with the goal of leveraging operational synergies, reducing startup costs compared to establishing a new utility, improving accountability, and addressing chronic water infrastructure issues, as well as streamlining services and ensuring sustainability.

“Today, when I speak, I speak with hope, but I have some tempered caution. While the Bill offers a path of modernisation, it must not be viewed as a blank cheque, or a mere structural rebranding; it must be a contract, again, of accountability with the people of the Virgin Islands,” Hon Mather stated.

Doing nothing isn’t leadership

Hon Mather said that for too long, utility services in the Virgin Islands have operated as disconnected arms with BVIEC on one side and W&SD on the other. 

He explained that the BVIEC’s work is visible to all, as it is quick to respond, especially in times of a natural disaster. 

“We see their work ethic, we cheer them on, we thank them, we recognise what they need, but there is an atmosphere at BVIEC…a morale. It is the epitome of a Virgin Islander wanting to help his country.”

When compared to W&SD, Hon Mather said some of the employees [at W&SD] have explained their situation to members, including having to buy their own safety boots. He said they have expressed a desire to do more for the VI, but need more support. 

“As leaders, do we sit here and look at them and listen to them and do nothing? No, Madam Speaker, that’s not leadership, that’s not accountability, that’s not transparency…but to do nothing, that’s not an answer.”

He used the example of joining two bodies of water as one, saying, “You’re going to see some churning, some upheaval, but eventually those two streams, they merge, and they start to flow.”

Hon Mather said to expect that there will be no uncertainty when the BVIEC and W&SD are joined is not realistic, as that is not how life works. 

“Eventually, if your intentions are good and you’ve gone through all that churning, Madam Speaker, the river will flow, the water will flow, the power will flow, because that’s what it does. Those kinds of bodies naturally find their course."