Water improvements on Tortola-Hon Vanterpool, Biwater vindicated!
He stopped short, some say for political reasons, on giving Biwater the credit for the major water improvements. The Minister was at the time giving a statement at the Third Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Second House of Assembly held on Thursday, February 12, 2015 about the Water Distribution Network.
Biwater - what they will provide!
Amidst all the controversy over the Biwater project the National Democratic Party (NDP) regime has failed to reverse the contract although that was a major campaign promise in 2011.
Speaking exclusively with Biwater (BVI) Ltd. Project Director Richard F. Smith, he confirmed to our news room that “Biwater started pumping water on Tortola in November 28, 2014 and is providing 2.3 Million gallons of drinking water per day”.
However, according to our research it was found that because the Government did not keep its obligations in addressing the infrastructure, the plant is not at full capacity. This has been confirmed when Mr Smith told our news room that, "the plant is currently at 75% whilst the distribution network is being upgraded."
NDP will now keep obligations-Hon. Vanterpool
Not only admitting that water distribution has improved on Tortola while deliberately refusing to give the credit to Biwater, the Communications and Works Minister told the public that his Administration will do the necessary infrastructure works. This will now make it necessary for Biwater to get water to all the homes.
On February 12, 2015 Minister Vanterpool told the House of Assembly (HoA), “Madam Speaker, the Water and Sewerage Department aims to provide a consistent and reliable supply of potable water to consumers in the Virgin Islands. To this end, the Department continues work to upgrade the water distribution network throughout the Territory”.
“These efforts will complement work ongoing to ensure that our reservoirs are filled and distributing water from the East to the West of Tortola,” he said.
Minister Vanterpool said, “Madam Speaker, recently it was necessary to undertake remedial works from Beef Island Bridge to Parham Town, Tortola, to rectify constant breakage in that area, as well as to cater to future needs in the area with the water lines”.
“Upgrade works took place in The Sound and accommodation was made for future increase in demands in other areas throughout the community of East End,” he said.
“Work will continue from Parham Town to Long Swamp in a few weeks, Madam Speaker, and from Long Swamp to Paraquita Bay,” as Hon Vanterpool continued reading his statement.
The people need water not politics
Recognising that the people are in desperate need of water and do not want to be part of the politics of trying to frustrate Biwater by the NDP Government, Minister Vanterpool has agreed to address the infrastructure obligations which will result in most who are on the distribution system getting a consistent supply of water.
He told the HoA, “In addition, Madam Speaker, work to upgrade water pipes from Sabbath Hill along the Ridge Road to the Fort Hill/Belle View junction and continuing on to Chalwell, will take place in the next three to four weeks.”
“Madam Speaker, this is necessary to ensure the daily distribution of water from the Sabbath Hill Reservoir to Cane Garden Bay, while at the same time sending water to the Hannah’s Hill Reservoir.”
“Upgrades to the water pump at Diamond would also be undertaken, to facilitate an increase in water flow to areas including Baugher’s Bay, Josiah’s Bay, Huntum’s Ghut and Long Bush,” he said.
"Meantime, Madam Speaker, the Water and Sewerage Department is working steadily to change out the water pipes in a number of areas in Sea Cow’s Bay, especially from the Well to the bottom of Hannah’s Hill, including the area leading to the Seventh Day Adventist School,” the Minister reported.
Wise decision by VIP to sign Biwater
While it will take some time for the NDP to come around to what many who have scrutinised the Biwater deal and admitted that it is the best deal ever signed in the people’s interest the Minister told the people that it’s his government’s “aim to have as many persons connected to the public water system as possible”.
The Fourth District Representative a first time Minister of Government stated, “we are aware that there are certain communities where the infrastructure is not yet in place to accommodate this; areas such as Spring Ghut, Hope Estate, parts of Cane Garden Bay, Brewer’s Bay and Spooners, Fort Hill, Hawk’s Nest and others.”
“Madam Speaker, we continue to explore the options and I can report to this Honourable House, that efforts are being made to have these areas connected within the coming months,” said the Minister.
Water improvement - VIP had vision
Again while not giving the previous Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government or Biwater any credit, Minister Vanterpool confessed, “I can confidently and accurately say that the water situation in the Territory has improved tremendously.... the network has been expanded and strengthened; there are fewer disruptions in the supply and more areas are being serviced on a regular basis”.
The VIP’s vision, according to research by this news site, was that 2.3 Million galls of water per day was arrived at in the Biwater agreement, so there will be a 10 to 15-year window of enough water to facilitate an expanding population for new customers both commercial and residential to come on to the water distribution system.
The Minister now admitted that his Ministry and the Water and Sewerage Department are working to see this happen in connected new areas on Tortola.
“Madam Speaker, I wish to assure this Honourable House and by extension, the public, that every effort is being made to further improve the water distribution network in the Territory,” the Communications and Works Minister concluded.
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42 Responses to “Water improvements on Tortola-Hon Vanterpool, Biwater vindicated!”
For the record, the deal with OC was a bad one, too.
That contract should have gone out to tender whether a public tender or a selective tender? Without the forces of the market at work, this was a bad deal.
NDP START OUT LYING HOPING WE WILL BELIEVE THIER LITTLE LIES.
We do not have a distribution problem we have an infrastructure problem and they only now dealing with that as Vanterpool said in the house.
Don't even mention that Ocean Conversion contract say them suppose to build a reservior, still not built. Biwater already build theirs government using it long before Biwater start producing water. Not to mention Biwater giving government the Plant free after 15 years; not to mention Biwater giving government a Sewage Treatment Plant for Road Town, Baughers Bay, Purcell, and around (no more raw shit pumping in ocean off slaney); not to mention Biwater giving government a 3 new pump stations (including the one by Round-About); not to mention Biwater putting in free pipes to take shit from Round-About to Sewage Treatment Plant all the way down Prospect Reef. You want more.... You moron...
You say, "The cost of BiWater installing the reservoirs is 3 times the cost that OC asked for". You don't know what you talking about, Government was not, and did not pay for any reservoir, them reservoirs are part of the deal just like the sewage treatment plant is. When people like you are so wrong in just such a small part of the agreement, noody could believe a darm thing you have to say. You just don't know what the agreement is all about. Give it a rest jack/jill.
But I blame VIP they take too long to come out with the fatcs on every issue!