ST. CROIX — The Virgin Islands government has filed a lawsuit against St. Thomas Liquor Company Ltd. and its agent, Blue Anchor Asset Management LLC, alleging that the landlord illegally shut off water service to three Virgin Islands Police Department offices, forcing the department to close them.
The lawsuit, filed by Assistant Attorney General Sheena Conway on behalf of GVI and VIPD on Friday in Superior Court, District of St. Thomas/St. John, indicates that the landlord stated in a letter issued Thursday that the water had been eliminated at three VIPD offices on St. Thomas due to alleged unpaid rent.
The complaint states that under the lease agreement, the landlord has customarily provided utilities, including water and electricity, to the leased premises. The lawsuit claims St. Thomas Liquor Company shut off the water to compel the government to vacate the leased premises, noting that the Virgin Islands Code prohibits the use of self-help measures, such as cutting off utilities, to evict a lessee.
In its filing, the government contends that St. Thomas Liquor Company’s actions interfere with its ability to provide essential public services and pose a risk to public safety. The complaint asserts that the loss of operational VIPD offices has caused “irreparable harm” to the community. The government is seeking an emergency temporary restraining order requiring the immediate restoration of water service to the affected VIPD offices.
The landlord, however, said water service was restored the same day the government filed its complaint.
“I’ve already turned the water back on,” Anthony Chaline, Blue Anchor owner, said.
Chaline, who was not familiar with the lawsuit, said he turned the water off Thursday and turned it back on Friday. He declined to confirm that he shut off the water because VIPD was not paying rent. He then declined further comment.
Additionally, the government is also requesting a preliminary injunction to prevent the landlord from terminating water service in the future, stating that it is likely to prevail on the merits of the case because the conduct violates Virgin Islands law. The government has asked the court to waive any bond requirement typically associated with injunctive relief.
According to the lawsuit, VIPD leases office space from St. Thomas Liquor Company at three locations on St. Thomas: Suites 209 and 210 in Building 1 and Suites 401, 402, and 403B in Building 2 at Al Cohen’s Plaza, as well as Suites A through E on the third floor of a building in Havensight. The lease term runs from November 1, 2022, through October 31, 2027.
