Consumer News
DPNR To Resume Monitoring of Public Drinking Water Suppliers in the Territory
CHRISTIANSTED — The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) said that it will begin monitoring public water systems for compliance starting January 1, 2018. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, DPNR suspended the compliance monitoring required under the Safe Drinking Water Act for the territory’s public water
WAPA THE GRINCH! Heartless V.I. Water & Power Authority Begins Cutting Off Power To Storm-Ravaged Customers … Six Days Before Christmas
CHRISTIANSTED — They thought they were the lucky ones. The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) connected them to electricity on St. Croix at 3:20 p.m. on Nov. 16 — one week before Thanksgiving. It was so relatively “early” in the game for people living on St. Croix, that they
DPNR BEACH ADVISORY: Four Beaches In The Territory Should Be Avoided By Swimmers and Fisherman This Weekend
CHRISTIANSTED — Four beaches in the territory failed water quality testing and should be avoided by swimmers and fishermen, according to the latest Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) Beach Advisory. DPNR said that three beaches on St. Croix and one on St. John are not considered safe to swim
V.I. Water and Power Authority Contracts With Wisconsin Utility To Bring Electrical Workers In To Work On Christmas … Because WAPA Workers Won’t
TWO RIVERS, Wisc. — Two city line workers and a utility bucket truck departed Wisconsin Dec. 9 bound for St. Croix along with line workers from municipal utilities in Marshfield, Rice Lake, Arcadia, Fennimore, Clintonville and Reedsburg. Head lineman Brian Dellemann and expert lineman Darrick Wendricks are part of a Wisconsin
JULIO RHYMER RESIGNS! Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Governing Board Accepts His Resignation … He’s Moving To OMB
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Julio Rhymer is out at WAPA! That’s the startling unconfirmed report the Virgin Islands Free Press got early today. The embattled Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority CEO Rhymer has struggled to connect 50 percent of the territory to electricity more than three months after Hurricane Irma
JAMMONIT MON! BVI’s Jamaican Linemen Will Restore Electricity To Tortola Before WAPA Gives Full Power Back To The Territory
SUPERIOR TALENT: Jamaican crews have been putting their noses to the grindstone to ensure that citizens of the British Virgin Islands do not spend Christmas in the dark. In the USVI, there was a rumor today that WAPA has fired CEO Julio Rhymer because of his performance after the storms.
DON’T BECOME A STATISTIC! Register Now With FEMA To See If You Qualify For A Low-Interest, Long-Term Loan From SBA
CHRISTIANSTED — Some 40 percent of small businesses never reopen after a disaster, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) To help small businesses, loans are available from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA also can lend money to homeowners and renters hurt by disasters such as Hurricanes
CHTA WEBINAR: Caribbean Hoteliers Can Expect Up To A 40 Percent Increase In Their Insurance Premiums Next Year
BRIDGETOWN — Caribbean hoteliers should plan now for an increase in insurance premiums anticipated to range from 10 to 40 percent following two Category 5 hurricanes, which struck several destinations in the region in September. Scott Stollmeyer, Managing Director, Barbados and Eastern Caribbean for CGM Gallagher Insurance Brokers, made
Four Florida Electric Utilities Send Their Crews To The Virgin Islands To Work On Electrical Restoration Here
TALLAHASSEE — Public power personnel from four Florida municipal electric utilities headed to the territory last week to assist with ongoing power restoration efforts after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) said. “After Hurricane Irma tore through nearly the whole state, Florida utilities were the grateful beneficiaries of
YET ANOTHER ST. CROIX BUSINESS CALLS IT QUITS: Orbitel Jumps Out of the Local Internet Market … Virgin Islands Powerhouse Viya Expected To Benefit From The Loss
CHRISTIANSTED — Orbitel, a local Internet service provider based on St. Croix, is going out of business for good. The company, which for years had provided high-speed fiber Internet service to commercial concerns, only recently began to offer residential service to customers. The closure of Orbitel had been the source
