I didn’t contribute to BVI’s water woes
As communities continue to grapple with frequent disruptions to their water supply, former speaker of the House of Assembly Jullian Willock has denied that he contributed to the problem when he served as permanent secretary for the Works Ministry and Director of the Water and Sewerage Department (WSD).
Willock — who spoke on yesterday’s airing of the Morning Braff radio show — said he spent seven years as director of WSD where he fought for more resources and better pay for workers in order to ensure that residents got the services they deserved.
He stated that there are currently no engineers at WSD and this is one of the major reasons residents continue to have frequent water disruptions. He said the department had four engineers when he was the leader and added that he had a system where the reservoir levels were monitored so the department could forecast when there would be water shortage.
“There are three major factors that cause water challenges: infrastructure, the department leadership and the four desalination plants,” Willock explained.
There are four water distributors in the territory, but residents have long blamed their water woes on Biwater (which now operates as Seven Seas Water BVI Limited) that continues to undersupply the gallons of water that the government pays for yearly.
Hosts Floyd ‘Heritage’ Burnett and Cindy Rosan asked Willock whether he had a hand in bringing BiWater to the BVI, but the former House speaker denied his involvement.
Heritage asked: “Some people said you went to college and came back with BiWater?”
Willock replied: “Most of the people who track the true history of the BVI know that is rubbish! When I went to the Ministry of Communications of Works, Biwater was already in trend. I took up the mantle as permanent secretary and there was some continuation with Biwater. But bringing Biwater was a Cabinet decision.”
When pressed to state the origins of Biwater and how it came to the BVI, Willock said he did not have those details. As the hosts prepared to ask him additional questions, Willock said “my 10 minutes is up and I have to go.”
In response, Rosan asked, “Did you (Willock) and Julian Fraser, who they claim brought Biwater to the BVI, benefit financially and do you pay a water bill?”
“When I was Permanent Secretary we brought in about five or six companies and I can say without fear that we have never benefited from them. I don’t wish to speak for Honourable Julian Fraser but I will risk saying it for him. In fact, during the negotiations for water, I left and went off to school and when I came back, Biwater contract was already signed so for anyone to suggest that a man of my integrity benefited from Biwater, that is rubbish and a lie from the pit of hell,” Willock explained.
It’s unclear what actions the government will be taking to address the numerous water woes that communities continue to face. New water meters have been acquired but there have been no long-term plans to beef up staff and fix old infrastructure which the authorities say causes gallons to be leaked away daily.
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This man is a true slippery snake
Bi-water did what they were contracted to do, its we who didnt keep up with our end of the bargain.
Why is this f**l being given air time again?
Willock is s**m…th**ving s**m
He has my vote for sure in district 3
I vote for him. He gave me free water
The 3rd awaits you , @LOL ~ he sure is / looks like the fake gentleman has been practicing the moonwalk with bcsc , the city slicker
“A man of my integrity”, funniest thing I have read in a long time
It was not john Samuel and not you so who pushed the Biwater contract?
Is he blaming engineer Kerof?
Willock is one of we
This man is a puppet for the bosses. He need to be in jail
No! He is not.
“Man of integrity “ please tell us who paid the lawyers fees that a judge said you were supposed to pay youself.
Willock did damm great job at the water and Sweage ask all the staff
Can’t help but feel that anything that in which the esteemed one was involved is tainted with grift and graft.
I said PS was the worst thing to water and sewerage until the now-acting Director Brain took the post. Lord Have mercy I stand corrected.
Willock we with you brother you remain our prince
You are jealous
If Sea Cow’s bay people know what’s good for them they would leave that crazy, narci**ist, l**ng man alone and don’t ever make the mistake of voting for him. Anyone who calls themselves esteemed etc clearly has a problem. The man can’t hold a job. Every job he has held he was dismissed from.
No water in Hannah’s for the past 10days.
I would say ask AF but let’s say you, me and all the tax payers. It’s about time the Governor take a look at that file. We will testify.
And receiving it too
Is this wiggy who placed all those inferior pipes under the road despite Engineers advising against it. The same pipes that are bursting up all over the place? It cannot be
YEAH RITE ) we know it’s you asusual blowing your own horn , you started the deteoration of WSD made one worker and not the one who they say used to bring
your lunch basket , or can YOU name one achievement that your majesty accomplished there you are a troubled maker , look at the amount of taxpayers money you SQUANDERED in the HoA to fight mark / and your trini did a moonwalk out nof here withe a smile on his face while you were playing with your precious WIG you even tried a thing with the
* Smith * lady from West, who had to straighten your wobbly ogomanic A*z out