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Committee forwards WAPA and hospitals board nominees to full Legislature
Summary
The Rules and Judiciary Committee voted to forward Xavier A. Acevedo to the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Governing Board and Dr. Sophia George to the Virgin Islands Government Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation board to the full Legislature after confirmation hearings.
The Committee on Rules and Judiciary voted Monday to forward two more of Governor Albert A. Bridal Jr.'s nominees to the full Legislature: Xavier A. Acevedo for the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) Governing Board, and Dr. Sophia George for the Virgin Islands Government Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation board of directors.
Xavier Acevedo, a retired WAPA employee and former union president who described himself as a 25‑year real estate investor and project manager, urged decisive action on long-standing utility problems. He told senators his immediate priorities would include ending "back to back" (estimated) billing, expanding customer communications, revitalizing solar programs and establishing an underground-utility division. Acevedo said he would align board actions with the Ernst & Young organizational assessment and devote his "full time attention" if confirmed.
Dr. Sophia George, president of the University of the Virgin Islands and a long-time health-care leader, described workforce shortages and health outcomes that she said require investment in data and training. She told the committee that building a local medical pipeline — including a medical school and residency programs — and improving preventive screening are long-term priorities. George highlighted short-term improvements such as online billing and stronger community outreach to rebuild trust in local hospitals.
Both nominees answered questions on staffing, operational capacity and how their professional experience would shape board decisions. Committee roll calls approved both nominations by favorable committee votes; each nomination passed on a 6-0 roll call with one member absent and will go to the full Legislature for final confirmation.
