By By SUZANNE CARLSON Daily News Staff

Copyright virginislandsdailynews

Hannibal “Mike” Ware, former Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration, has been named the new executive director of the V.I. Waste Management Authority.

“I’ve already had a 35-year career, I’m not here for a job, I’m here for purpose,” Ware said.

He’s been receiving many lucrative offers for consulting jobs, but “that work didn’t seem like it would be rewarding or fulfilling to me at this point in my life.”

Ware is a Virgin Islander who graduated from Central High School on St. Croix and the University of the Virgin Islands. He served as keynote speaker at the inauguration of UVI President Safiya George in March, where he reflected on his time in federal government before becoming one of eight inspectors general fired by President Donald Trump in January.

“Just watch the news if you want to see what toxic leadership looks like,” Ware said at the time.

On Monday, Ware said he’s eager to return home and help overcome the “massive” waste management challenges that have been facing the territory for years, including rebuilding wastewater infrastructure and bringing landfills into compliance with federal environmental laws.

“I am here to throw my entire being into the success of the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority,” Ware said. “Excellence has been the standard of every agency that I have led.”

Ware said he is just becoming familiar with the role and will provide more updates on his future goals soon.

Improvement will not happen overnight, but “I promise this community that they will know step by step what is happening, and what is being planned,” Ware said.

Waste Management Board Chairman Derek Gabriel announced the selection during Monday’s Government House press briefing alongside Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.

Ware “brings a wealth of executive leadership experience. We are confident that this returning Virgin Islander will lead the Authority successfully,” said Gabriel, who thanked interim executive director, Daryl Griffith, for leading the Authority over the last year the board spent searching for a permanent hire.

“He stepped in and brought stability and accountability at a time when needed. I look forward to his continued position as the Authority’s chief financial officer,” Gabriel said.

Griffith has received widespread praise for his efforts, and he said in May that the Authority is working to catch up on a little over $20 million in overdue payments to vendors, and rebuild crumbling sewer lines and other infrastructure.

Bryan provided updates on several other topics Monday, and announced that the V.I. government has purchased the Nana Baby Home on St. Thomas, which provides residential care for children in crisis.

Bryan thanked the Legislature for allocating funding to purchase the facility, and “to the lady who makes it all happen,” Executive Director Darian Torrice Hairston.

Hairston thanked “Donna Frett-Gregory for really spearheading this project for us early on,” and “I know that we are only the current shepherds of this mission,” she said. “Nana Baby Home has been around long before me and I hope it continues long after me, and we plan to utilize this new facility to the best of our abilities and fill it with love and laughter and light, and give the children more space to grow into themselves while they are with us.”

The Legislature approved funding for the project in September 2024, using money the government received from settlements with Jeffrey Epstein’s estate and associates to provide $1.8 million for the Property and Procurement Department to enter a long-term lease with the Nana Baby Children’s Home.

Last November, on behalf of the Nany Baby Children’s Home, Hairston accepted a check donation for $139,000 — the proceeds from the King of the Wing competition organized by Alpine and White Bay Group. Proceeds of the competition have been donated to the home on at least three other occasions — $8,771 in 2010; $52,000 in 2012 and $68,000 in 2014.

The home, in January 2024 and as recent as February, received grant funding from the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands for a therapeutic garden and to help with major renovations to its kitchen, bathrooms and play areas.

Bryan on Monday also said his administration is moving forward with plans to transition the government to a self-funded health insurance system, following a meeting with the Government Employees Service Commission Board.

Bryan called senators into a special session in August, where they unanimously voted against a self-funded health insurance bill after hearing from testifiers who said the government has long struggled to pay vendors and meet critical financial needs, including providing timely allotments to the hospitals.

Bryan said Monday that there will be an internal study to be completed by December 2025 by the GESC’s consulting partner, the Gehring Group, after which the government will issue a request for proposals.

“This is a positive step that puts us on stronger footing to help reduce overall claims costs, enhance efficiency and deliver better health coverage for the people of the Virgin Islands,” Bryan said.

Bryan said his administration is also seeking a legal opinion from V.I. Attorney General Gordon Rhea on the Coastal Zone Management permit for Summer’s End Group to build a marina in Coral Bay on St. John.

While the Legislature recently voted not to retroactively extend the expired permit for two additional years, Bryan said they’re awaiting Rhea’s position on the developer’s interpretation of the law, “which is claiming that no permit is actually issued or active until a federal government permit is issued.”

Bryan said that “we’re awaiting a position on that,” and “if that doesn’t happen, we fully expect that — we hope — that Summer’s End would be resubmitting for the extension of that application to the CZM board.”