Auditor Shortage Slows Inspector General's Probe of WAPA, Education, and VIPD as Lawmakers Push for Action

With only 11 auditors, the small team at the Office of the Inspector General, a critical piece of the government's accountability framework, is being forced to prioritize certain investigations and audits over others, despite all being considered equally important.

Delia Thomas, the territory's Inspector General, appeared before the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance on Monday to defend her Office’s request of $2,898,392 for FY2026.

At the request of Governor Albert Bryan Jr., the Office of the Inspector General has been asked to audit the contracting practices of the Office of Management and Budget, Department of Education, and Virgin Islands Police Department. These audits remain in the planning phase, Ms. Thomas told lawmakers, “due to the unavailability of auditors to devote full-time to this assignment.” Currently, 5 of the Office’s 11 auditors are “fully engaged” in WAPA assignments, investigating the Vitol propane contract and the “$2 million offshore payment.” Approximately six years ago, WAPA claimed to have fallen victim to a phishing scam, which resulted in them wiring $2.3 million to a purported vendor which turned out to be phony.

There are three more WAPA audits underway, relating to its contracting practices, billing and collection, and deductions for employees’ loan payments, Ms. Thomas noted.

The six remaining auditors are “working on multiple assignments”, explained Ms. Thomas. She assured lawmakers that upon completion of the Taxicab Commission’s audit, members will move on to new assignments. The Office is currently focused on the TCC’s “compliance with the laws regarding approving taxi licences, the sale of and accounting for medallions, the inspection of taxicabs, revenue collections, and expenses of the Taxicab Commission.”