Wapa

Senator Challenges WAPA CEO on Communication With Employees During Hearing Discussing Progress at the Authority

Andrew Smith, who was appointed CEO of the V.I. Water and Power Authority in January was told by Senator Franklin Johnson that he needs to make time to talk and listen to his employees, contending that the new executive could learn a lot from them. "Make time for your people. These men and women in WAPA work very hard, please find time to meet to talk with them, you will learn a lot,” Mr. Johnson told Mr. Smith Friday during a meeting of the Committee on Disaster Recovery & Infrastructure. During the meeting, the committee received testimony from WAPA regarding the status of all disaster-related projects in the territory. However, Mr. Johnson told the committee that he had been attempting to meet and discuss a constituent's issue with the chief executive but was unable to set a date and time before Fridays’ hearing. Two of Mr. Johnson’s gripes were information from employees that they have been unable to meet with Mr. Smith to discuss work-related challenges, and the other was about...