On Monday, the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority Board of Directors met to address operational challenges and discuss major infrastructure needs in the face of ongoing financial pressures.
Chairman Derek Gabriel opened the hybrid meeting by commending staff for their recent outreach efforts. “It has been a very ambitious … 30 days,” he said, noting the team’s presence at town halls and its work to strengthen the Authority’s relationship with the community.
The board approved new mechanical equipment for wastewater pump stations on St. Thomas and St. John, part of a wider effort to overhaul and standardize the territory’s system. Pump stations are essential infrastructure, moving sewage and stormwater from lower to higher elevations for treatment, and the Authority hopes that switching to uniform equipment will streamline repairs, simplify staff training, and reduce long-term maintenance costs.
“We have 31 pump stations in the territory. … We want to standardize, so when we walk into a pump station anywhere, it’s the same equipment,” said Keith Smith, director of operations. Board members emphasized the importance of planning for operations, maintenance, and spare parts as part of any future equipment orders.
The board also approved funding for urgent wastewater and sewer repairs, including the replacement of an 800-foot sewer line that came in well above engineering estimates. While directors agreed the fix could not be delayed, they noted that these emergencies reflect the cumulative impact of years of deferred maintenance and the Authority’s limited resources.
Several board members called for a pivot from reactive, crisis-driven spending to a more strategic approach. They pushed for flexible, long-term contracting tools and clearer criteria for prioritizing projects, emphasizing the need for transparency and deliberate planning to focus on recurring infrastructure failures.
Even as they authorized the emergency expenditures, directors underscored that the Authority must move toward a system that anticipates infrastructure needs rather than constantly scrambling to address them once they reach critical stages.
The VIMWA is facing an escalating financial crunch as millions in expected government funds remain unpaid. Chief Financial Officer Daryl Griffith told the board that as of the end of September, the agency is still owed $9.8 million in outstanding allotments, including money intended for anti-litter programs, sewage maintenance, and tourism-related services. He warned that delays in government payments are directly affecting the Authority’s ability to make repairs, pay contractors, and keep critical operations running.
The board also ratified several prior poll votes, including a 25-year lease extension for the Anguilla landfill on St. Croix, necessary for maintaining federal regulatory compliance, and contract amendments tied to ongoing infrastructure work.
In an effort to modernize public service and tighten internal coordination, Executive Director Hannibal Ware announced the launch of the Authority’s new centralized customer service system. “We created what we’re terming the V.I. Waste Management Authority Customer Care Portal,” Ware said. “We have the full internal capacity and capability to now handle these emergencies as they’re called in to the agency. We have a single point of contact that will go out and ensure … things are addressed when they pop up.”
Ware said the portal will help streamline how complaints and emergencies are logged and tracked, improve communication with residents, and create a clearer sense of what issues require immediate attention. “Everything just cannot be a priority, otherwise, nothing is a priority,” he added, emphasizing the need for disciplined, transparent triage as the Authority navigates its growing workload.
Ware also stressed that long-term progress hinges on changing community behavior, pointing to public education as a crucial tool in addressing littering and illegal dumping. “Education… is critical to changing cultures, mindsets and everything else,” he said. The Authority plans to expand its school-based outreach as part of a broader push to strengthen community engagement and promote responsible waste practices.
Griffith detailed several grant awards that will help bolster equipment and infrastructure investments. The agency has secured $350,000 from the U.S. Department of Interior to purchase two new garbage trucks, along with grant applications submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency for recycling efforts and to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for tire disposal.
The Authority also expects to receive $46 million in Community Development Block Grant funding to support major landfill closures and expansions across the territory. Construction on new convenience centers is expected to begin soon, with architectural and engineering work nearing completion. The board also advanced procurement for underground utility work and new emergency generators.
As the meeting wrapped up, Gabriel praised the board and staff for their recent progress and emphasized the importance of continued training and professional development. “It is important… to continue education, not just for staff, but also for our members, so that we’re able to assist with executing the vision and strategic planning,” he said.
