BVIEC outages worsening water access issues, says Alliance
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has warned that frequent power outages are worsening already dire water access problems across the territory, leaving many residents unable to meet basic needs.
Walwyn described the ongoing water shortage as “a vexing one” and said it has worsened over time due to inadequate investment and maintenance. “It seems as if it has gotten progressively worse,” he stated.
Walwyn explained that leaking reservoirs and outdated infrastructure continue to hamper efforts to deliver water to residents. “All the reservoirs that were leaking in the territory, they’re still leaking,” he said. Territorial Member Stacy Mather also highlighted a recent call from a resident of Nottingham Estate who had been without water for three weeks while caring for a bedridden family member.
“The United Nations classified access to water as a basic human right. We are going up to the UN talking about independence… You need to tell the UN that you’re not providing [water] to the people of the Virgin Islands.”
Walwyn, in the meantime, further linked the water issue to persistent power outages, noting that electricity disruptions affect the water supply by forcing desalination plants offline.
“Sometimes the water is off, and you think it’s Water and Sewage, but sometimes the water plant is being asked to go offline to accommodate load-shedding,” he explained.
He urged the Water and Sewage Department to work in tandem with the BVI Electricity Corporation to address the vexing infrastructural issues affecting residents urgently.
“We have to work and get them fixed, and deploy the resources and the necessary human resources as well, and the financial resources to get the problems sorted,” Walwyn stated.
The government recently announced plans to invest $8 million from a $100 million loan into fixing the water network, but members of the Alliance questioned the timing and sincerity of the announcement.
Mather said many communities, including East End, Long Look, and Virgin Gorda, remain without a reliable water supply. “Cannot flush, cannot wash, cannot even wash their faces,” he noted.
Both Walwyn and Mather commended the under-resourced Water and Sewage Department staff who continue working despite delayed overtime pay and insufficient supplies.
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Brilliant observation by Myron and Mather, that the power disruption has caused the desalination plant to go offline, I think we should suggest standby emergency generator for the plants, continue enlighten the people because Ronnie and Marlon had us sleeping. We woke now.
Fix this before looking at spending 200-300 million on the airport.
we also need hospital and clinics up to date, schools working properly. roads fixed.
i voting for anyone who can fix our water, power and roads, which vip seems to not to care about
Gentle men, put your memorandum of understandings and objectives together on how your intentions for the country and it people will finally evolve and prosper from your stewardship of good political hygiene.
There are good, brilliant, moral and politically minded people in the community, recruit them.
As, the politics of our great nation need a thorough cleansing with polotical hygiene along with some tide and a poltical broom and brush.
The country and people certainly do not need another government elected with a sole objective of enriching itself by taking the people’s property through legal legislation from the first day on the job, for example, through another GREEDY BILL.
Humans will be humans. They will steal, but unlike the past days, they might not be upfront and callous about it.
The people must never be hoodwinked again! Let the political educating of the masses begin from today.
no improvement for life in the BVI since 1949. Thanks to incompetent public officials we still make our own electricity and water in order to survive.
Is the e epiphany Natalie et.al. had on one of dem trips to do nothing. Kye is a failure and needs not ever holding any ministerial position ever stun his lifetime.
What about non-residential businesses that depend on street water? They too are suffering!
Well new people in the position to get rich by giving out constant projects that will lead to a draw back,when lee was in power everything was going smoothly,but this was the man who wipe out the bvi airplane 7mill then he goes into electricity and then system get hacked,then he bring in contractors who he know without tender projects,isn’t that similar to the high school wall,but we will leave it as it be,when hurricane come it will be normal because we are accustomed to black outs and no water.
SO WHY WE ACTIMG LIKE ITS THE FIRST TIME ❓️ WHAT HAS MR KYE KYE ACCOMPLISHED SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE ❓️ EVERYTHING HE START IS LEFT UNFINISHED – LOOKS LIKE HE HAS THE SAME INTENTIONS LIKE OUR PREMIER / AND THAT IS TO LEAVE EVERYTHING UP TO THE YOUNG GRADUATES TO FINISH EVERYTHING STARTED , LORD WHAT HAVE WE GOTTEN OURSELVES INTO ( WE PROBABLY MIGHT OF TRIED THE CITY SLICKER OR YHE WIGGED DUDE