Government

Hugo Hodge Responds To Workers' Complaints At Propane Site

After weeks of remaining silent, this week, V.I. Water and Power Authority Executive Director Hugo Hodge responded to VI Consortium's inquires regarding a rash of allegations made by local workers against subcontractors hired to build WAPA's propane conversion facility on St. Croix. Hodge distanced WAPA from local workers' complaints of unfair hiring practices in favor of imported workers, unsafe and unsanitary working conditions, and other grievances voiced against AT Construction and other subcontractors hired by the project's lead contractor, Vitol Virgin Islands Corp. (Vitol). "For contractual and liability reasons, Vitol and all subcontractor's (sic) engaged by Vitol in performing the work necessary to complete the LPG project are independent contractors who are neither WAPA's agents or employees," Hodge wrote in an email to VI Consortium. "With that said," he continued, "both Vitol and its subcontractors are contractually obligated to comply with al...