Roger Merrit Announces Non-Renewal of His Contract, Hesitant to Comment on Reported WMA Sick-Out

WMA Executive Roger Merrit admits to recent employee absences but denies sick-out characterization, and announces his contract will not be renewed

Roger Merrit, executive director of the V.I. Waste Management Authority hesitated to confirm whether service disruptions were the result of an apparent sick out staged by staff of the authority for a second consecutive day, as he defended the WMA’s FY2025 budget request on Wednesday.

Mr. Merrit, when asked about the alleged severe staffing shortage by Senator Novelle Francis Jr. during the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance hearing, initially claimed that the authority “can't speak on personnel matters because that’s confidential.”

It’s a response that did not satisfy Sen. Francis, who clarified that he was not seeking specifics. “What is confidential? That you have employees on a sick-out?” Mr. Merrit’s response was deemed as “unacceptable” as the Senate president insisted that “the public needs to know, and as well as this body…that’s not privileged information.”‌