Senator Heyliger Challenges Governor Bryan's WAPA Funding Claims

In a forceful rebuttal to Governor Albert Bryan's recent statements about funding for the V.I. Water and Power Authority, Senator Alma Francis Heyliger has issued a stern condemnation, accusing the governor of deceit and evasion of responsibility.

During a recent press briefing, Heyliger Francis said Governor Bryan accused the V.I. Legislature of failing to provide necessary funds to WAPA, attributing part of the utility's financial struggles to this shortfall. Mr. Bryan stated that the Legislature's actions of underfunding semi-autonomous agencies forced those agencies to divert funds meant for utility bills to cover other expenses.

Contradicting the Mr. Bryan's claims, Francis Heyliger highlighted a "Single Payer Utility" line item in the budget, expressly set up to ensure that WAPA receives its due payments.

The senator argued that the governor’s narrative misrepresents the Legislature's efforts and mismanages the fiscal resources of the territory. She criticized the governor's decision to use the "rainy day fund" to cover WAPA's debts, labeling it not only inappropriate but also unlawful, as such debts, she said, do not meet the legal criteria for emergency fund use.