Viya Restructuring Has Senators Questioning Territory’s Tax Incentive Programs

Lawmakers Wednesday continued to question why the company formerly known as Viya is receiving tax incentives after a corporate restructuring saw local executives laid off and a number of Virgin Islands jobs exported to Guyana.

The discussion came during the first half of a wide ranging Senate Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications Committee meeting that included infrastructure updates from the V.I. Public Works Department, Water and Power Authority, Information Technology Bureau, Management and Budget Office, Virgin Islands Next Generation Network, T-Mobile and One Communications — a rebrand of Viya.

Members of the 36th Legislature grilled Viya leadership about the layoffs during a March Committee of the Whole meeting. On Wednesday, newly installed One Communications chief executive Siobhan James-Alexander said she was aware of the senators’ concerns.

“Throughout the process we have been sensitive to the needs of our employees, particularly those who have served with us for so long,” she said during prepared remarks. “We have made every effort to smooth their transition back into the broader workforce or even retirement.”

Sen. Clifford Joseph asked about tax incentives the company receives through the University of the Virgin Islands Research and Technology Park.

“So, how is it that you’re moving jobs out of the Virgin Islands, or the territory, while benefiting from our territory?” he asked.

James-Alexander said the changes were part of the company’s attempts to remain viable in an increasingly costly industry and that One Communications is committed to its current structure and the Virgin Islanders comprising its workforce.