Water woes hit VG & residents cry loudly
This state of affairs as it relates to water rationing on Virgin Gorda was brought to the attention of this news site by residents of Spanish Town, Valley and even North Sound and most persons expressed similar thoughts that the government body responsible has been handling the matter with scant regards.
One businessman told this news site that he has made several complaints to the Ministry of Communications and Works, “I contacted the Minister himself about this situation, I communicated not with Water and Sewerage, not with the workers on the ground I went straight to the top because they have a way of standing up in the House of Assembly and talking a bunch of crap so I went straight to him,” alleged the businessman.
Another person from North Sound said, “Yes this is overbearing and thanks for calling to find out because we know that Water and Sewerage knows what is going on and they don’t even have the common courtesy to even put out a little notice saying that there is a problem and what they are doing to deal with it. Nothing, and then they get vex when people go to the media but thank God is the media calling, seems like VINO will have to become GIS now because you doing a whole lot better job than the government when it come to keeping people informed and that’s why they don’t like VINO… Fix the blasted water Mark (Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool) we suffering here and you not telling we nothing, like we is your step children and is we put you there.”
A prominent figure in the community said that she is specifically hurt by the fact she learnt that the root of the problem is as a result of the government not renewing the contract of Aqua Design (BVI) which is responsible for the production of water on the island.
“We heard that things will get worse, the building is not being maintained because the government hasn’t renewed Aqua Design’s contract, that’s what I understand why they (Government) treating us so bad. They haven’t renewed the contract that is why we are not getting water, sometimes two days no water, no water, water woes in Virgin Gorda,” cried one resident.
None of the persons we spoke with wanted their names to be used for fear of victimisation.
Several attempts were made to secure confirmation from Aqua Design (BVI) to confirm whether or not allegations of their contract not being renewed were true, but all attempts failed. However, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works Mr Anthony S. McMaster confirmed that the government has not yet renewed the contract of Aqua Design.
“First and foremost, I must make it clear that all the contracts that we have signed with all the water companies there are provisions in them for how contracts are renewed to go into the future and even when we are going through the discussions for renewal…both you and I would agree that if you have a 10-year contract a lot takes place over that 10 year period so when times comes for renewal a lot of discussions take place to ensure that it is renewed in a fashion that is both comfortable to the company and to the government,” stated Mr McMaster.
He said the contract not being renewed is not the problem as they are in discussions with Aqua Designs currently and the process is going well. “It’s interesting sometimes how people say the things that they say and I wonder if we are trying to get to amicable solutions or we are trying to create confusion, I actually have to say it that way,” said Mr McMaster.
According to Mr McMaster, they are expecting that by the latest of April 2015, month end, water supply at Virgin Gorda would have been boosted. “We would expect that by the end of April at the latest more than likely some sort of official arrangements would be in place to ensure that productivity takes place and that we are able to produce at a capacity that’s necessary for us to be able to supply all of our customers.”
“However, I know that the Director of Water and Sewerage (Mrs Perline Leonard-Scatliffe) has made it quite clear that we need to start looking at increasing the water productivity levels in Virgin Gorda because, from their monitoring, they can see that the reservoirs are not being supplied with sufficient water to meet the demands, which is an indication to us here that there is supposed to be a water issue and it is one that we have been looking into based on what the director has told us based on their review of what is taking place,” said Mr McMaster.
He said government has already started to look at ways of increasing the production of water on Virgin Gorda. “But to say that persons from the community have called the Ministry, I have not received such complaints from the public or from members of the community but I don’t know if the Director of Water and Sewerage have received such, if she did I was not made aware of such complaints,” said the Permanent Secretary.
He did say, however, that he was shown a copy of a blog posted by someone on Hon Vanterpool’s Facebook page speaking on the water situation on Virgin Gorda. “I was given something in regards to something that was sent to the Minister on Facebook.”
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25 Responses to “Water woes hit VG & residents cry loudly”
So h after 3 year in office doing nothing the excuse it it’s the VIP fault boss when ayo NDP come to my house I will throw human s..t in ayo face..Set of waste of time
Never before in our history we had so much water problems until Biwater came to this place!
we have the best and the brightest in or civil service.
Here is a news flash. One does not wait for an existing contract to lapse before either working to renew it or to awarding a new contract altogether. Depending on the size, scope and complexity of the contract, the process should start several months before. Given the vital need of water, contracts should negotiated and inked to avoid lapsing and starting of servicing. Poor planning p.ss poor performance.