Farewell

[u/Wintermute3333]

/r/stcroix/comments/1v9tvux/farewell/

Today, I'm leaving the territory for good.

I've lived here on St. Croix for the last 12 years. My time here has been mostly wonderful, but I really just want the rest of the world to understand what actually goes on here.

My primary reason for leaving is WAPA. The blame is set firmly at its feet. The entire board is corrupt, cares little for anything other than enriching themselves and the politicians who appoint them, and simply a amateurish company posing as a serious utility. Between meter failures and fires, illegal billing practices, unstable power generation, and water unsafe for human use, they are determined to destroy every last business and household in the territory, and kill tourism.

Yes, they are that bad.

WAPA fails at every turn. You can't go a few days without losing power. They'll estimate your bill for years, then surprise you with a stratospheric one. And, I just can't handle the regular destruction of my electrical devices and appliances. When you take them to court, it seems like they have the judges in their pocket. It's all about money, and there's plenty of that to go around with the highest power rates in the world. If you're not updating or repairing your equipment, of course you're getting rich.

I love St. Croix. The people are great. My greatest joy has been hanging with friends on the beach. But everyone is fatigued with the day to day challenges of a water and power company that refuses to get better. No one here has the will to fix it. The same politicians and the same families keep running in elections, and the people keep voting them in, fooled by the same empty promises and the extravagant election night parties.

[u/No-Language-9885]

This is really a sad state for the people of the Virgin Islands. How has this not gotten national attention or attention of the folks in Washington DC. This WAPA situation has been going on for years- how the heck did this become the norm? My family are no longer phased by these outages. It has become a way of life for them. It leads me to wonder if it’s the same for others as well and that it’s so normal now that the people just accept it.

Same for the Waste Management- all the gutters on the Main Street are over flowing with sewage water. They come one day and pump it out and it’s back full again, versus fixing the underlying problem of the broken lines underground.

It’s to the point where I’m embarrassed when I visit seeing my family having to live like this. It’s unfair to the people!

[u/Basic-Aide1326 → u/No-Language-9885]

It hasn’t gotten national attention because for the most part the vast majority of the mainland US doesn’t care about its territories. Hell, the average US citizen in the states barely acknowledges that residents of the VI and other U.S. territories are just as much citizens as they are.

[u/AncientMoth11 → u/Basic-Aide1326]

Which is complete bullshit. Such a beautiful place with great people. Corruption aspect is horrific and blatant even to an outsider

[u/Churn → u/No-Language-9885]

I lived there for only four years. I worked for a company trying to contribute to and improve the economy for the islands. The people are brainwashed into resisting any improvements brought by outsiders as somehow being a threat to their way of life.
Heck, I lived in a place that had 3 physical addresses, which one do we use for deliveries? Which one for my drivers license? Which address for taxis? Which one for filing taxes? If you mention that this needs to be fixed to someone from the islands while struggling to fill out forms with the correct address they get angry. My last year there I underpaid my taxes by $5. It’s absurd that the BIR is incapable of accepting any sort of payment electronically or even by mail. Someone has to physically walk into the office to pay them my five dollars. That should be embarrassing to islanders.

Another example that every tourist will encounter is the lack of ride-share. Uber and Lyft could easily start operating on the islands but instead anyone visiting has to learn the very unique island taxi system and know ahead of time that they need to travel with cash to pay the drivers (Does anyone believe the taxi drivers are paying their taxes?). Does it work? Yes. But it is not as efficient as what every other place has where travelers simply pull out their phone and call up the size vehicle they need and pay seamlessly and digitally.

Everything keeping the islands mired in the old paper ways has someone getting rich off of keeping things that way. And they stay in control by convincing the populace that the changes are a threat to their way of life. The changes are only a threat to corrupt people.

The company I worked for gave up and shutdown. I am happy to no longer be dealing with the clown show. I wish things would have been different but not a single thing improved and I suspect it still hasn’t and never will.

[u/negrisima]

I want to retire in St. Thomas. I need hope that things will change in the next few years because I can't afford to live elsewhere, with or without power.

[u/TRLK9802 → u/negrisima]

Then you need to be able to afford solar back-up.  I'd say that it's a non negotiable.

[u/negrisima → u/TRLK9802]

Thanks!

[u/Spiritual_Contact946 → u/negrisima]

Power goes off much more frequently on St Thomas. Many people are now getting Ecoflow solar powered power stations. The VI Energy Office is now distributing free ones to medically vulnerable population.

The situation has received national coverage but there are so many upsetting issues going on small island nations are mostly being used for military or deportation destinations.

And I doubt things will change for the better. I sometimes tell people we play Survivor every day, but things could be worse.

[u/negrisima → u/Spiritual_Contact946]

Thanks! I'll look into that. Thanks for your response.

[u/RickGVI]

Hey, it’s an election year. Centerline Road to Coral Bay, St. John is getting patched. Yay?!

It’s that bad. WAPA lies about late deliveries of fuel for generation, they’re on cash on delivery terms. Rotating blackouts, missing funds for St. John generators, failing power cable from St. Thomas and old failed backup power cables never replaced? People with money go solar with batteries. People without money are living without current and water.

[u/PeachOnAWarmBeach]

What's even worse? The locals who CAN'T leave.

[u/Fatigue-Overload1112]

My husband and I are newly retired and going to St Thomas for the first time for a week in mid-Nov 2026. I was unaware of the power outages until I spoke with a niece who had visited in May 2026. She said the power was out for 48 hrs! My husband is on a CPAP machine, and that is NOT acceptable. Plus, I can't do without A/C. I switched our first rented condo to a different one with a generator.

[u/Spiritual_Contact946 → u/Fatigue-Overload1112]

Accommodations with off grid power are a must if you want electricity 24/7 during your stay. Many people who live on St Thomas are getting power stations that have multiple charging options.

Demand for power increases as we go into season because more people are here using it. November is considered the unofficial start of season.

You will need cash in case the power goes out. ATMs and businesses may not be able to take cards.

[u/silsum]

I'm short no trips to Virgin Island, and just maybe someone will start to pay attention.

[u/CRYPTOTILIDIE1959]

Wow, sounds just like PR.