Mather Defends Utilities Bill, Rebukes Opposition
At-Large Representative Stacy Mather praised the government's Virgin Islands Energy & Water Corporation Bill, 2026, calling it a necessary overhaul to address decades of failing water and electricity services. He rejected Opposition claims the bill grants draconian powers, saying provisions require notice and compensation and that inaction would be a failure of leadership.
Territorial At-Large Representative Stacy Mather on Thursday mounted a robust defence of the government’s Virgin Islands Energy & Water Corporation Bill, 2026, applauding Works Minister Kye Rymer for confronting long-standing problems in the territory’s water and electricity services.
Mather described the legislation as among the most consequential to reach the House of Assembly in years and urged colleagues to support reforms rather than preserve the status quo. The bill proposes merging the Water and Sewerage Department with the BVI Electricity Corporation into a single statutory body made up of separate business units that would report to one board and a single chief executive officer.
Mather said the change is a decisive break from what he called ‘‘decades of dysfunction’’ and argued consolidation would allow for better coordination, resource allocation and long-term planning for maintenance and investment. Mather also highlighted measures in the draft law aimed at protecting workers, noting provisions dealing with staff welfare and pensions. "Even when it comes to pensions and things, you can see that things are being taken care of and thought of for people.
I applaud the ministry and the minister for putting the effort into taking care of our people," he told the House of Assembly. The Opposition has warned parts of the bill could grant the new corporation excessive powers over private property, with Leader Myron Walwyn saying some sections appear draconian.
Mather pushed back, saying those warnings were misleading and that a careful reading shows safeguards. He pointed to Sections 9 and 12, which he said require notice, limit inconvenience and provide for compensation where access to private land is necessary for utility works. Mather framed inaction as the greater risk, saying doing nothing would be a failure of leadership and would simply pass unresolved problems to future administrations. "We sit here, listen to utility workers tell us they need more resources and want to do more for their country, and then we do nothing.
That is not leadership," he said, adding that leaders must be both cautious and courageous. For BVI residents, the debate touches everyday concerns: frequent power outages, water shortages, and the costs and reliability that affect households, businesses and tourism. As the House continues to debate the measure, supporters like Mather say the bill is intended to create a more accountable, better-resourced utility provider; opponents continue to press for tighter safeguards and clearer limits on land access and corporate powers.
Primary source: BVI News