Grassroots Initiative "Bottom Up Government" Launches in USVI: Challenges 2026 Candidates to Adopt Concrete Solutions for Municipal Governance and WAPA Reform
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 14, 2026
Grassroots Initiative "Bottom Up Government" Launches in USVI: Challenges 2026 Candidates to Adopt Concrete Solutions for Municipal Governance and WAPA Reform
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Today, the Bottom Up Government (BUG) initiative officially launched its territory-wide civic campaign, presenting concrete, ready-to-adopt policy frameworks aimed at dismantling centralized inefficiencies and restoring accountability to local communities.
With the 2026 General Election weeks away, Bottom Up Government is calling on every candidate seeking public office—gubernatorial, legislative, and delegate—to move beyond vague campaign promises, review two landmark legislative drafts hosted at www.bottomupgovernment.org, and integrate them into their official platforms:
The Draft Municipal Corporations Act: A structural blueprint establishing decentralized municipal governance across the territory. For St. Croix, this means ending decades of neglected infrastructure and top-heavy administration by granting residents local control over municipal budgets, public services, and community priorities.
Comprehensive WAPA Reform: An actionable legislative framework tackling the territory’s crippling utility crisis through strict oversight, ratepayer protections, audited accountability, and modern energy decentralization.
"For generations, Virgin Islanders—especially right here on St. Croix—have lived with the consequences of an over-centralized government and an unaccountable power grid," said a spokesperson for the Bottom Up Government initiative. "We are handing candidates the tools to fix it. True leadership isn't about diagnosing problems we all already feel every day; it's about committing to real legislative reform. We want every voter to ask one simple question before November: Where do you stand on Bottom Up Government?"
Over the next eight weeks, the initiative will roll out a civic engagement campaign, sharing information, engaging with candidates, publishing candidate responses, hosting community meet-and-greets and candidate forums, and giving voters direct access to legislative drafts at www.bottomupgovernment.org.
Candidates, media representatives, and community members are invited to download the full drafts, examine the policy briefs, and follow campaign updates directly at www.bottomupgovernment.org.
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Media Contact:
Bottom Up Government Initiative
Jack Pickel
Phone: 575-405-8007
Email: bottomupgovernment@gmail.com
Website: www.bottomupgovernment.org
