TESTIMONY OF THE 
VIRGIN ISLANDS WATER AND POWER AUTHORITY 
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGET, APPROPRIATIONS AND FINANCE 
36TH LEGISLATURE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 
RE: BILL NO. 36-0274  
June 8, 2026 
 
Good morning, Honorable Chairman Novelle E. Francis, Jr.; Honorable members of the 
Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance; Honorable Senators present; fellow testifiers; and 
members of the listening and viewing public. I am Dionne Sinclair, General Counsel for the Virgin Islands 
Water and Power Authority (which I may reference as “WAPA” or “the Authority”), appearing today on 
behalf of the Executive Director and CEO, Karl Knight. 
Thank you for the opportunity to testify on Bill No. 36-0274, which would require the Virgin 
Islands Housing Finance Authority to provide compensation to homeowners in the LBJ Gardens 
community who have been displaced as a result of demolition activities on nearby VI Housing Finance 
Authority properties. 
OVERVIEW OF THE AUTHORITY’S POSITION 
WAPA appreciates the Legislature’s attention to this important matter and recognizes the urgency 
of ensuring that affected residents are relocated in a safe, fair, and equitable manner. The Authority 
supports Bill No. 36-0274 as proposed. 
Over time, the LBJ Gardens area has evolved from a primarily residential neighborhood into a 
more industrialized zone. Today, it is surrounded by critical infrastructure and commercial operations, 
including the Waste Management Authority’s LBJ pump station, a boat yard, and WAPA’s Richmond 
Power Plant and related facilities, such as the fuel dock. These are essential, fixed assets that cannot be 
readily relocated. As a result, the most practical and responsible path forward is to facilitate the voluntary 
relocation of residents through a structured and equitable process. 
The bill establishes a clear and transparent framework for providing compensation, relocation 
assistance, and replacement housing to eligible homeowners. It also appropriately assigns responsibility 
for funding these efforts to the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, consistent with its mission to 
promote housing stability and resilience across the Territory. 
CONCLUSION 
WAPA believes this legislation serves the best interests of the Government, the residents of the 
LBJ Gardens community, and the people of the Virgin Islands as a whole. It advances public safety, 
supports affected families during a difficult transition, and enables long-term development planning that 
benefits the broader community. 
Accordingly, WAPA supports Bill No. 36-0274. 
 
This concludes our testimony. We are available to answer any questions the Committee may have.