WAPA hurricane supplies illegally shipped to VI - USVI lawsuit
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St Thomas, USVI - A lawsuit recently filed in the Superior Court of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) by an employee who has been working at the local Water and Power Authority (WAPA) for over 19 years, has named the Virgin Islands (VI) as recipients of illegal hurricane supplies and restoration materials as part of corruption allegations against the utility's highest management level.
The whistleblowing lawsuit went on to explain what it called a coordinated effort to intimidate and crush any employee who would dare to speak up against questionable practices and transactions at the authority.
The lawsuit, brought against the authority by Rupert Pelle, who is being represented by the law firm of Attorney Lee Rohn — one of the most respected practices in the USVI — alleges that Mr. Pelle's determination to speak up against illegal practices made him a target of WAPA top brass Lawrence Kupfer, the current executive director/CEO of the authority, Gregory Rhymer, who currently serves as special assistant to Mr. Kupfer, Julio Rhymer, a former WAPA executive director/CEO, and Human Resources Director Sabrina King-Leonce.
The targeting led to a two-week suspension of Mr. Pelle without pay. However, after Mr. Pelle appealed his case to the WAPA Governing Board, the board reinstated the pay and ordered an investigation into the matter, though the two-week suspension, which started on February 21, was allowed to stand, according to a WAPA source with intimate knowledge of the situation.
VI named in lawsuit
Two major matters lie at the heart of Mr. Pelle's disdain by WAPA's upper echelon according to the suit, the first involving the illegal shipment of materials provided to the U.S. Virgin Islands by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) being shipped to the British Virgin Islands and the second matter involves WAPA Director of Human Resources, Sabrina King-Leonce. .
According to the suit, in December 2018, Mr. Pelle discovered that materials sent to WAPA by FEMA following the 2017 devastating hurricanes, had been shipped to Tortola.
These materials were not approved for the British Virgin Islands; they were hurricane recovery supplies paid for by U.S. taxpayers. At the time Julio Rhymer, Gregory Rhymer's cousin, was executive director/CEO of WAPA.
Mr. Pelle requested information as to why the supplies and materials were being shipped to the BVI, and whether they had been paid for. According to the suit, Mr. Pelle did not receive a response. "Upon information, Gregory Rhymer and other management employees were involved in this illegal transfer," the lawsuit reads.
The latest court action is among three that lays bare the alleged corruption and waste at the authority, but they are not the first. Last year, the Consortium reported on a whistleblower suit that alleged WAPA lies to the PSC, made bad decisions that have led to higher utility rates for ratepayers, and has taken retaliatory action against whistleblowers.
15 Responses to “WAPA hurricane supplies illegally shipped to VI - USVI lawsuit”
Thievery and misappropriation is just that,no matter the amount.
Our good neighbor could suffer dire consequence as a result.
Did we really get supplies meant for the USVI? If so did we give it back? I hope our people were honest in this dealing.
Solidarity is one thing; messing with US Federal monies is quite another.