BVI News

Only one four-man crew in place to fix Tortola’s water woes

Minister of Works and Utilities, Kye Rymer.

The Water and Sewerage Department (WSD) has just one water maintenance crew consisting of only four staff members to respond to emergencies on Tortola, Public Works Minister Kye Rymer expressed recently.

Consumers across the territory have been complaining about issues with their water supply and water leaks that are often not responded to in a timely manner.

But Rymer disclosed to the House of Assembly (HOA) recently that the WSD has largely been gutted and remains woefully undermanned and ill-prepared to respond to the challenges faced by residents.

Rymer said there were previously four crews consisting of 16 men in place, but many of the staff have left over the years through retirements and resignations.

The Works Minister blamed much of this on a strict hiring freeze previously in place and poor compensation earned by the staff of the WSD, among other things.

He also singled out the Finance Ministry’s unwillingness to properly fund and staff the department despite urgent and repeated pleas from his Ministry.

“The ministry is currently working with the department to identify the funding within the department’s current legal budget allocation to begin the hiring process to rebuild these crews by year-end … in the absence of the hiring freeze,” Rymer said.

Rymer denied that water was being wasted as claimed by Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn and said he will now ensure that the necessary staff complement is in place at the WSD to ensure that repairs are done.

 

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35 Comments

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  1. No more free pass says:

    This is plain out crazy. Everything under Kye has been a failure and it is time to hold him to account. Water, roads, the traffic, that mess they call a market etc. everything under him is in total chaos and has been in total chaos.

    Like 31
    Dislike 4
  2. CHAOS says:

    Remember he put P in a back room and put the PS in charge of Water and Sewerage??How soon we forget!!!!

    Like 15
    Dislike 1
  3. BODY LAUNGUAGE says:

    if this pityful look don’t touch the people’s heart ♥ nothing else will / straight outa Hollywood

    Like 11
    Dislike 1
  4. BS says:

    this been going on for years and if you dont have anything positive to say to better the situation please be quiet

    Like 9
    Dislike 5
  5. bs says:

    you listening to yourself when things are done for better we cry and when we get better we cry we is our own problem before we help each other we tear down each other

    Like 1
    Dislike 3
  6. Eldread says:

    Kye stop coming with this sympathy talk about Wheatley not funding wsd as your plea because you and sl**ande together thought it better to fund non stop concert and not the workers of your ministry.

    Like 28
    Dislike 2
  7. What!!!! says:

    Why does it take more than four men to go out and repair water leaks?

    Like 12
  8. Dear Sir, says:

    You campaigned and was elected among other candidates to help fix the country’s issues, so, start fixing. No sympathy here.

    Like 22
  9. @chaos says:

    Many will remember that from Kerof time his auntie had wanted to be on charge in water and sewerage. Time is longer than twine.

  10. @eldred says:

    But how everything that benefitting kye in his district getting funded? So he thinking on beating his own chest?

  11. John public says:

    Oh my gosh He lieing. The ministers can repurpose funds where they want. Stop blaming the finance ministry. Instead of the economic zone you implemented killing off small businesses that money could have been used to fix the water problems. Step down and give Mather the ministry please.

    Like 20
  12. 4 man crew says:

    are overwhelmed with repair work so they are taking a vacation until things settle down.

  13. @What!!!! says:

    One to hold the spanner. Two to drink the beers. One to sit in the truck.

    Like 13
    Dislike 1
  14. Reality Check says:

    The reality is that while Kye could manage a small unit like DMV, he is not capable of managing a large organization like Public Works. We still see large work crews with many of them just standing around, instead of small efficient crews. There isn’t any reason that the supervisors aren’t helping; they all have two arms and can, hopefully, figure out how to use a shovel!
    Having been lied to by Smith Berkley about fixing the sewage problem at Road Reef for the last three years (seven years of complaints), it appears that Kye doesn’t have the fortitude or the brains to clean out the deadwood and get people who can properly organize PW.

  15. @ Body language says:

    Naaaaaaaah…that smirk is saying “gotcha fools”. He’s one ☝ of the dressed in clothing. HC schooled them in ways that they continue to execute plays from his (HC’s) playbook. They have all agreed not to address the elephants in the room. Collectively the pact is not to discuss the charade of misappropriations. So, it’s a smirk and says to John & Jane Public – gotcha!

  16. Five years says:

    Its 5 years now and you just realizing its only 4 staff you hav

    Like 3
    Dislike 0
  17. West end says:

    They build a large tank West End but the same pipe line filling the tank is the same one distributing the water. Guest what? There is never enough water in the tank.

  18. M says:

    Someday, someday you guys keep messing with people minds.The rest will be history.

  19. Licher and Sticher Good says:

    As part of the A** Clown Brigade, you need to speak to your leader, the Sl**est Premier we have ever seen, and come to some solution.

  20. @west end says:

    backwards in everything

  21. @chaos says:

    For true you know. Some one should look for her to get her side. I think she got her retirement so she can talk openly.

  22. @what says:

    Why don’t you just volunteer so we can send you to repair one.

  23. @Reality Check says:

    The young guy Skelton was the brains.

  24. West end tank says:

    The tanks done under NDP went up so good; who did those? It must be someone else because these in west end are not ready.

  25. Hmm says:

    The dumbed leading the blind

  26. Deh Watcha says:

    During election they asked where can’t talk MB going.

    This one did alot of talking….he talk so good he got a second term. He still talking good.

    This is what emotional voting leads to. But as I saying now….weeiip ah want ayo k!// um.

  27. I keep trying to tell y’all says:

    The SHOES, the SHOES that he wears is zapping his thinking process.

  28. Please man says:

    The water pipes needs to be underground. I don’t know what happen to Kye, seems like his thought process went woo woo.

  29. @BODY LANGUAGE says:

    Pityful look? That is part of the game. There is nothing pityful about that man. I call myself being sorry for someone with that same puppy dog look and i got the damn dagger in my back.Looks is deceiving.

  30. Ex says:

    Water and Sewerage has been always neglected by the politicians. They continue to hire people that haven’t a clue. The people just tried of the nonsense. We just need the British government to take that Department from them because it’s clear they don’t know what they’re doing

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  31. @ex says:

    The Ministry. Set of hot hands down there.

  32. @ chaos says:

    Are you sure? The same person who helped him when he was a civil servant? Anyone has her contact? That’s why I chose who I help before they use me.

  33. Big Richard says:

    UK please stop this insanity. We can’t hold up much longer

  34. Truth or consequences says:

    You probably think lifting a 6inch Dr 14 pipe is like lifting a penis

  35. Better ideas says:

    It might sound crazy but loowatt.com and other waterless toilets have odorless properties and do not depend on centuries old infrastructure that may not be maintainable by anyone at all.

    All the best every one.

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