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Biwater not discussed at recent UK meeting

The controversial Biwater contract was not brought up for discussion at the recent OTCC meeting in London. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The highly criticized Biwater project, which the National Democratic Party (NDP) campaigned heavily against and which the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) even admitted may have been a factor in them being unseated from office at the November 7, 2011 elections, was not discussed at the Overseas Territories Consultative Council (OTCC) meeting in London recently.

Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith, speaking earlier this week to the media about his agenda in the United Kingdom, said the project was not put up for discussion.

In fact he said, although the UK Government expressed concern with the Territory’s handling of its finances for both recurrent expenditures and capital projects, discussions did not go into details about any projects as he was more concerned about lobbying for more time to assess the Territory’s “financial condition”.

“We did not go into those details but what we were concerned about was to get an understanding with Mr. (Henry) Bellingham that we were not prepared at that time to go along that route but that we wanted more time to review the situation and present alternative proposals. This was the main topic for discussion which they agreed with,” Premier Smith said.

On, February 18, 2010, BiWater, signed a Build, Own, Operate, Transfer (BOOT) contract with the Virgin Islands Party Government for a sea-water desalination plant.

The plant will produce 2.3 million imperial gallons of potable water per day, has a construction value of US$43 million and a subsequent 16 year operation and maintenance period. In addition, the contract includes the design and build of two sewage treatment plants, pumping stations, extensive pipelines and reservoirs.

The contract also includes the provision and installation of a water distribution leakage reduction programme complete with a tariff billing system.

The cost of water in Tortola is also expected to be substantially reduced when the company comes into full operation. Full sewerage treatment for the island will also be provided.

The contract, however, came under fierce attack from the then opposition now ruling party NDP, who said it presented a contingent liability to the country and even questioned whether there was an exit clause.

8 Responses to “Biwater not discussed at recent UK meeting”

  • I'm Concern (01/12/2011, 13:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The ball is now in your court Mr. Premier so let us deal with it. The water and Sewarage Depatrment is charging for meter rent for nore than 10 years and we are getting no water. Work with the contracted Biwater and let us have water after all we are the ones paying for it. God Bless tha Government and the Virgin Islands.
    • funny man minister (01/12/2011, 14:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      ralph was the man needed to go in london with fraser they would had have questions and they would have come back with answers struups
  • dog meat (01/12/2011, 16:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    but the UK done tell dem do not touch the biwater project...but they will never tell ayo that! thank god for frazer the liberator..he give us good water and phone prices....
    • Daddy Friday (02/12/2011, 06:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      "dog meat" you hit de nail on the head meh son....NDP and them haters cannot touch biwater..ha ha he he me frenc
  • Que (01/12/2011, 21:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    bi water broke the talk shows and NDP told us..but how come they still full speed ahead with the work?
  • Boo (01/12/2011, 22:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Talk is cheap and money buy land. Bywater aint going no where. You aint see Town and Greenland smelling like a horse bum. Leh we do dis thing and clean up the tish and put clean water in the tap and them.
  • Truth or Fiction (01/12/2011, 23:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. Premier, what message are you sending to your supporters/preple of the territory? Why the heck did you go to London? Ok, let me see, You came back saying that the $15.7 million CDB loan was not discussed. One would suspect, that since you voted against the borrowing of the money in the House of Assembly, and you campaigned against it and won the government, that your supporters would have expected you to tell the UK Government to forget about approving the loan. I am confused with the hiprocracy of both you and the NDP supporters. Was the loan idea good or bad? Or because it was Fraser's idear you didnt support it? Same thing with Biwater. You had everything bad to say about Biwater, you never stopped. From Biwater being a bad company to do business with, to Biwater being broke, to the Agreement being a contigent liability, to the VIP taking money out of the Country, all of which was proven wrong, by the way. AND YOU GO TO THE UK AND DID NOT RAISE THE ISSUE OF BIWATER? Tell the people of the Virgin Islands what the hell you are thinking Hon. Premier. I am confused.


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