Alliance questions gov’t making water ‘critical issue’
Opposition members have criticised the government for declaring water access a national “critical issue” only after years of public outcry and neglect, calling the announcement a political move rather than a genuine effort to address long-standing infrastructure failures.
Works Minister Kye Rymer recently announced that water infrastructure has now been prioritised at the Cabinet level. He unveiled a six-point plan backed by an $8 million allocation from the $100 million loan facility to address chronic water shortages, promising leak detection, upgraded pumps, modernised controls, and better service reliability across the territory.
Second District Representative Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull questioned the timing and credibility of the move. He noted that residents have been raising complaints for years with little to no action.
“When you heard Mrs Parsons talk about why can’t we get roads fixed, why can’t we get at this late stage water fixed… we shouldn’t be having this discussion about water,” Turnbull argued during a recent broadcast on Pulse of the People.
Turnbull accused the government of responding only after pressure mounted, and with the 2025 Emancipation Festival approaching.
Stacy Mather, another Opposition and Alliance member, said the situation should never have reached this point. “In June of 2025, you’ve discovered this? The five of you have come to the conclusion that now it is a national critical issue?” he questioned. Mather noted that materials like pipes had long been in short supply, with frontline workers “screaming for years now” without assistance.
He expressed scepticism over the sudden change of tone, saying, “now they’re saying they’re going to forego the Procurement Act… snap fingers, it’s time to address it.”
“Now, one can applaud them for the effort, but one has to question, based on the track record, what is really going to happen,” Mather said. “What was different now that caused the Cabinet, the government of the Virgin Islands, to hear the cries of the people?”
Minister Rymer defended the plan, saying the territory was suffering “an alarming rate of water loss” due to leaks and ageing systems. “Your frustrations have reached my ears, and I assure you we are committed to bringing about real and lasting change,” he stated.
The government is working with Operators Without Borders to assess infrastructure and will implement short-term, medium-term, and long-term fixes. Preliminary assessments suggest that around 80 per cent of the water produced is lost before reaching residents.
Still, Turnbull questioned whether this was simply a “big, ginormous plan” rather than a focused solution. He warned that people deserved urgent answers, not more delays and announcements.
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“now they’re saying they’re going to forego the Procurement Act… snap fingers, it’s time to address it.” –
I saw that too and was vex, all of a sudden this is possible. It couldn’t be done all along?
.. that’s exactly what it is.. a political move! These elected official don’t understand that after years off falling for promises that were never met.. we the people ain’t falling for that no more.. we have had enough!… if you can’t deliver what you promised . Your time is UP! M.W we giving you a chance but you have one term(4 years) to atleast not only tackle the important issues at hand but to atleast start actually working on them.. not just talk about them . We want to see movement. We want to see progress being made.. we want action!
Myron and Turnbull were NDP members when they were in the last time. Do we think water got to this point in 8yrs? It was neglected over 30yrs. Stop the blame game and come up with solutions. Does the Alliance have candidates? What is their motive really?
The district 3 rep allegedly brought in B-water to produce water so government can send it thru broken pipes that he never fixed. Talk that also.
Then turned around and blame NDP for not fixing the infrastructure.
All while water production was not an issue.
All the alliance has to do is hold government accountable. If the current government cannot govern and lead this country, they all need to step aside.
Hear this bias VIP. Myron or Mitch was minister for communications and works? Kye has been the minister for water and roads for the last 6 years and both of these things are worse than how he met them. Stop making excuses for him and your government and tell them to perform. The water situation has never been this bad!
@pop: it’s not kye fault he afraid to open his mouth on natalio and tell him don’t give Vybz Kartel quarter million USD because the holy men John cline and Claude has natalio back on that one, remember when Claude Skelton cline came out and say it was a good move for premiere natalio Wheatley to bring in Vybz Kartel? Kye and Lorna was not for that money wasting but they had to lap their tails to remain am minister of government, Lorna eventually got the kick in the a$$ from natalio for dare to say that Vybz Kartel should get quarter million USD.
It will be so they can get some financial control to do their deals in SECRET.
will this decades example of corruption, deliberate ineptness and political dishonesty end?
“Your frustrations have reached my ears”. Well where the bloody hell was the frustrations reaching before and why people had to get to the point of frustration in the first place. Seems like the 8-strong protest did the trick? And who are these waters without borders people. What due diligence has been done. Nobody in the territory is qualified? PWD not qualified? Is it a matter of non qualified persons or is it a matter of sourcing the requisite pipes and materials. It was stated that public works’ problem was the unavailability of pipes. So wha the hell…waters without borders in the pipe making business? What is the breakdown for that 8million and who really getting what? Set ah criminals. Something not right about this transaction. About your frustrations have reached my ears. Jokes.
It is simple. The pipes needs changing, upgrading. So seems like they need backhoes, pipes and Public Works and Water and Sewage to supervisor. These young people spending all of the money on consultants and advisors and not enough on the actual work. Nobody has to tell them what the problem is. You just have to drive around and you can see pipes leaking and water running along the roadways. Systematically fix that issue. Change the pipes. You need an advisor to tell you that? Fix the pipes and then fix the roads.
We are in trouble Misson.
Basically ignore an issue for an eternity then when people start to make a lot of noise declare it an emergency then bypass the procurement rules… rinse repeat. Gravy train keeps chuggin along.