ST. CROIX — Attending a Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority board meeting held here on Friday, At-Large Senator Almando “Rocky” Liburd made a presentation that sought to urge WAPA to start its own bottled water business in the territory; a move he contends would stir economic growth by adding 20 additional people to the workforce while creating a new revenue stream for\u00a0the local government.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are many benefits that can come from such a business,” said Liburd. “A new revenue stream for the government, more than 20 new jobs, financial support for WAPA\u2019s infrastructure, a boost to the local economy, providing a market for V.I. agricultural products, a new export for the Virgin Islands and increases a local water stockpile in the event of an emergency and, at the same time, allows the territory to respond to global crises where drinking water is in demand.”<\/p>\n
Liburd, who described himself as an advocate of the semi-autonomous entity, asked the governing board to give consideration to embracing the opportunities and further studying whether the time is right for WAPA to enter into the bottled water business.<\/p>\n
Board members present included: Chairman Gerald Groner, Esq., Vice Chair Juanita Young and members: Director Marvin Pickering, Commissioners Devin Carrington and Gustav James, Noel Loftus, Cheryl Boynes-Jackson and Elizabeth Armstrong.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ST. CROIX — Attending a Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority board meeting held here on Friday, At-Large Senator Almando “Rocky” Liburd made a presentation that sought to urge WAPA to start its own bottled water business in the territory; a move he contends would stir economic growth by adding 20 additional people to the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30513,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[191,2474,147],"tags":[3664],"yoast_head":"\n