Merging utilities won’t fix water woes
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn recently came out strongly against the proposed merger of the Water & Sewerage Department with the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC), arguing that the move is poorly timed and will not solve the territory’s longstanding water problems.
Speaking during the debate on the Virgin Islands Energy and Water Corporation Bill, 2026, Walwyn said he is not opposed to mergers in principle, but stressed that the main goal of this merger should be to solve the water problems in the territory.
The Opposition leader said when he examines the proposed legislation, the new corporation would not deliver reliable water any faster than the existing Water & Sewerage Department.
He pointed to provisions in the bill that allow government subventions to the new entity for up to 15 years, saying this shows the government already anticipates the failure of this merger.
“The bill is already anticipating that this newly formed corporation will not be profitable at least for the next 15 years,” he said.
He questioned why similar long-term financial guarantees were never extended to the Water & Sewerage Department, which he said has been starved of resources for years. Walwyn stressed that the department’s struggles are not the fault of its management or staff, but the result of government decisions that predate the current administration.
BVIEC already severely financially strapped
Walwyn also raised concerns about attaching an underperforming department to the BVIEC, which he noted is itself financially strained. Citing evidence given by BVIEC’s general manager during Standing Finance Committee deliberations, Walwyn quoted the official as saying the corporation is “severely financially strapped.”
“So you have a financially strapped corporation,” Walwyn said, “and you’re going to latch it to a department that is underperforming financially.”
He argued that the real solution lies in fixing the water infrastructure directly, including ageing and frequently broken pipes. He reiterated his long-standing call for a significant portion of the government’s $100 million loan to be used to address water issues.
“Why can’t the government use the money now and fix Water & Sewerage?” he asked.
Gov’t pressing forward
Despite Walwyn’s objections, the Virgin Islands Energy and Water Corporation Bill, 2026 continues to move through the committee stage, with the government maintaining that the merger is necessary and overdue.
Works Minister Kye Rymer has defended the legislation, saying the consolidation of water, sewage and electricity services under one statutory body is in the best interest of the territory.
Government members have also argued that the bill represents a decisive step that previous administrations acknowledged was needed but failed to take, insisting the merger will ultimately strengthen management and improve service delivery across the utilities sector.
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I agree with Hon Walwyn. If BVIEC said it is financially strained why would you add water and sewage department that isn’t making money now to them? I see Kye Rymer trying to evade his responsibility by passing the buck to BVIEC. Why can’t the government use the 100 million loan funds and fix water and sewage? Instead the Premier said he going to spend ALL the loan money with the next year. Tell us that this man isn’t insane. He will use our 100m for campaign projects while we still can’t get the water problems fix. Their solution is to pass off the problem that Fraser created with BiWater to this new corporation that has no money.
But he and the NDP chose to sell Biwater to a crony company…….SO DONT MIND HE!
You sure you have common sense? Bi water is a private company. If they choose to sell to another private company what can the government do about this? Y’all need to stop embarrassing yourselves with these elementary nonsensical comments. You sound like a real fool.
Government had the opportunity to get it right but chose not to
Let’s think about this for a sec,
VIP & JF brought BI Water on us, or so we were told. Follow your instincts, not your eyes.
Premier Natalio D. Wheatley, ( freedom fighter back then) returned to the BVI and marched against the contract.
The NDP got into power, telling the people they were going to fix the leaky pipes and hold BW accountable, nothing changed other BW selling to 7 Cs.
After the VIP returned to office fully well knowing the country wanted to get rid of this horrible contract on the back of the people, secretly the contract was extended under the watch of the new Premier?
How is it possible that the same player who brought this contract to us (JF) can be the acting Premier, present a draft bill and push WS & BVI EC to come together, no one can do anything about it?
Why did the COI turn a blind eye to this injustice?
Who are the powerful investors that can manipulate 3 governments for over 30 years?
Who are the beneficiaries of the $23M being spent to produce water?
Follow the money not the merger.
Destroy two local water companies and have a third running at half capacity to facilitate the demands of a foreign corporation now merge a failing entity with one that does a fairly good job to produce an entity dependent on the government for fifteen years. Anyone with half a brain knows this is going to result in more hardship for taxpayers who are now feeling the vicious bite of inflation and price gouging at a time when raising the minimum wage seems to be a mortal sin. Help me make it through the night let the devil take tomorrow. Sweeten the pot just enough for reelection so I can rock and roll for four more years. We’ll cross the next bridge if and when we get to it.
Biwater keep their end of the bargain………Government after government didn’t
Government is responsible for storage and distribution…All the government got to do is build more reservoirs and replace the leaky pipes…….PROBLEM SOLVED!
Government job is to store and distribute……Solution, build more reservoirs and replace leaky pipes…….PROBLEM SOLVED!
The problem is much more than that.
The gentleman is a Walwyn, but he resembles a Malone.
Agree with Walwyn