Former Interim President of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Bishop John I. Cline, has issued a fiery condemnation of the territory’s water situation, placing the blame squarely on former Communications and Works Minister Honourable Julian Fraser, RA (R3) and the controversial Biwater deal he spearheaded. Photo: VINO/File

Bishop John I. Cline said during the NDP Radio Programme on ZBVI Radio 780 AM on Wednesday, July 22, 2206, that the root of the problem lies in the controversial water agreement signed under Fraser, which he says put the government into a heavy financial obligation while failing to solve the territory’s long-standing water challenges. Photo: Facebook

Cline said during the NDP Radio Programme on ZBVI Radio 780 AM on Wednesday, July 22, 2206, that the root of the problem lies in the controversial water agreement signed under Fraser, which he says put the government into a heavy financial obligation while failing to solve the territory’s long-standing water challenges.

G'ovt paying millions  

He argued that the arrangement has left the public paying millions each year for a system that still cannot consistently deliver water to homes. 

According to Cline, the government is now obligated to pay about $1.5 million each month under the Biwater contract, amounting to more than $15 million annually. He said the agreement also carries penalties for late payment, adding even more pressure on taxpayers and public finances.

“You're talking about over $15 million every year, and you can't be late because there are interest penalties for every day you're late,” He said.

Cline blames Hon Fraser 

Cline accused Hon Fraser of dismantling a working system and replacing it with one that has not fully met the needs of the people. “Honorable Fraser signed that contract and commissioned the plan to centralise water to Biwater, who now cannot fully produce the water the country needs, and on top of that, there was no sound plan for distribution," he stated.

The clergyman said the territory was left without a proper distribution plan and with ageing infrastructure that has continued to deteriorate over time.

Cline further argued that while Biwater was expected to produce 2.3 million gallons of water per day, the water still cannot reliably reach households.

He added, “I rest the water situation of the Virgin Islands squarely at the feet of Julian Fraser, because he single-handedly disassembled what was working to install this new company, and now we have a royal muck.”

'That was not done by me'- Hon Fraser

However, Hon Fraser has in the past denied being responsible for introducing the controversial water-purchase agreement known as the BiWater deal during his time in office as Works Minister more than a decade ago. “That was done by the leader of our party, which was Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal. That was not done by me, he's the one who took it to cabinet, [and] he is the one who negotiated a contract. Not me, but I'm not running from anything," Hon Fraser stated back in 2023, when he was a Member of the Opposition.

He has also said that the issue was never whether Biwater could produce the water, but that the VI never updated its distribution infrastructure to fully benefit.