Wapa

WAPA Leadership Shakeup Takes Hold as Rhymer Resigns and Hedrington is Set to Leave; Kupfer, Whose Planned Exit Was March 10, Has Gone on Leave Through His Last Day

A shakeup of the leadership of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority that has long been called for by elected officials and members of the public appears to be taking hold at the territory’s only electric and water utility. Following last week’s resignation of Executive Director / CEO Lawrence Kupfer, after a three-year run at the helm of the company, VI Consortium has learned that a controversial figure at the Authority, Gregory Rhymer, suddenly retired last week, and the head of the electric system, Clinton Hedrington, is also set to retire, exiting before the end of this month. In what has been a whirlwind of activity over the past couple of weeks, with frequent meetings by the utility’s board of governors, and reported differences between Mr. Kupfer and the board, the changes are becoming somewhat clearer. While WAPA’s Director of Communications Jean Greaux, Jr. has repeatedly declined to comment, saying he is not authorized to comment on personnel matters of the authorit...