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Daily water interruptions is ‘third-world country living’- Hon Fraser

- Calls for VI’s water woes to be fixed so the country can 'function properly'
Daily water interruptions in the Virgin Islands is being compared to '3rd World country living' by Opposition Member Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3). Photo: ccwater.org.uk
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Senior opposition legislator, Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) has called on the Fahie administration to end daily water disconnections in the Third District and in other areas of the territory.

The legislator made the calls during a February 2, 2022, press conference hosted by the Opposition and included Opposition Leader Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) and Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2).

“How long can we continue to tolerate the fact that water is shut off in the afternoon and don’t come back until morning… that’s third-world country living,” Hon Fraser stated.

“We’ve gone past that long time ago, we have to stop it,” he said in his plea to the Government.

Hon Fraser added that while the government has accepted the reality, he is not about criticisms but rather, an attempt to ensure that the country functions properly and people are satisfied.

‘Fix these things’ – Hon Fraser

“If the process entails you becoming frustrated and thinking that I am picking on you, well I promise you that not my intent, but if that’s the way you feel then go and fix these things that I am talking about,” he said.

Adding to the complaints about water, was Opposition Member Hon Turnbull who also said water woes are affecting the 2nd District.

Meanwhile, according to the recent Speech from the Throne, the government announced that it will continue to make moves to have an adequate supply of water for the use of the public.

Government will also seek to establish a Water and Sewerage Authority as a statutory corporation through the Water and Sewerage Authority Bill to provide water supply and sanitation services.

The authority will include powers to control, manage, maintain, operate and supervise all watercourses and waterworks in the Virgin Islands, and provide an adequate supply of water for the use of the public.

25 Responses to “Daily water interruptions is ‘third-world country living’- Hon Fraser”

  • Greg (03/02/2022, 13:36) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    Today, east end little dix hill. Water running from the top to the police station. Sick of this. Pipes always breaking and we without water on a regular basis.
  • Hodgie (03/02/2022, 13:39) Like (34) Dislike (3) Reply
    So isn't the BVI a third world territory?
    • island man (03/02/2022, 14:37) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      was just about to say, tola is 1st world
    • Yes (03/02/2022, 15:59) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
      @Hodgie according to C***y yes! the bvi is a 3world county; Yet she refused to go back Vincy!!!
      • Lowell (03/02/2022, 18:30) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
        Unfortunately, it is the country abandoning imports and their Cindys and pikneys that have degraded the quality of life by settling themselves where they are hardly wanted,creating their natural comfort zone of criminality,nastiness sordidness that can only thrive in a third-world likeness.. greedy self gratifying politicians contribute to this with an enhancement of protracted lies and pretense. Compare BVI then and BVI now for confirmation.
        It will get worse. BVIslanders of yesterday are disappearing by natural elimination or preference of selling to the Gtoup that can afford to buy and leaving never to return.
  • true. (03/02/2022, 13:44) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    So honourable Frazer is so correct..We can do better. We need to do better. The Minister need to start working and dont let the popularity get his head..We need action. We need results.
  • Second it (03/02/2022, 14:10) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    Don't forget the roads and expensive internet
  • annudda2cents (03/02/2022, 15:35) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    so says the man that was minister for the subject not once, but twice. and as it is now, so it was then under his purview. next topic please.
  • 3rd world (03/02/2022, 16:33) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sir, we are a third world country. Let us stop fooling ourselves.
  • @3rd World (03/02/2022, 17:07) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    Crappy expensive internet, water and power outages regularly, raw sewage in the streets. Yep sounds 3rd worldish to me.
  • water (03/02/2022, 17:09) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    I agree with Hon. Frazer espeicially when the Gov. Pushing Covid sanirize with out water. I am tired of it in Purcell area got to be rushing home to bath wnd cstching water for 3 kids.
  • But of course (03/02/2022, 17:19) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Tortola is indeed a 3rd world country. When people have to resort to talking a bath out of a bucket, no proper septic system, no proper internet system, no proper garbage disposal system, open burning garbage dump burning constantly, messed up roads and the list goes on and on.
  • T (03/02/2022, 17:38) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr Fraser not only water turn off it's almost two months now I have been going there asking for my bill up now bill not ready something has to be done to that department I beg
  • E. Leonard (03/02/2022, 19:37) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    A safe, quality, and reliable potable water supply is critical to the VI’s economic growth and development, quality of life, standard of living, domestic use...etc. It does not have any rivers, lakes, dams etc, to uptake water from; its primary source is desalination, which cost is expensive. As such, the VI faces challenges in meeting its water demand; its challenges include production, testing, storage, transmission, distribution, maintenance and repair, etc. Additionally, it also faces funding and operational challenges. For example, in an earlier government release, there was an indication that it (Water & Sewage) was taking in approx $5M and paying out $27M, ie, Water and Sewage (W&S) is heavily subsidized by government/taxpayers. Typically, a water activity is funded by consumers/rate payers. However, from the outside, it seems that without government subsidy most consumers/rate payers would not be able to afford water. Further, it also appears that W&S operations is split between a) administration, and b) maintenance, repair and capital projects. Someone can set me straight if I’m out in left field. To me, this arrangement is a challenge to effectively manage. The Water and Sewage Department needs a unity of command structure. Overall, it needs some structural adjustments, ie, operational effectiveness and efficiency study, rate structure analysis, capitalization, etc.
    • Stealth (04/02/2022, 00:17) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      Great insight and real talk. Creating a board is a red herring and not the solution. If you ask me, the BVI ha see to many boards. A well-structured and effectively and efficiently functioning department can get the job done. Water is too important and vital a resource to be pissing around with it. Premier Andrew Fahie, take charge.
    • @E. Leonard (04/02/2022, 13:30) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      Clearly, you are skillfully trying to defend your niece, trying to absolve her any responsibilities. She has some responsibility. Nonetheless, I agree that the Water & Sewage Department needs a complete revamping.
      • Confusion (05/02/2022, 09:54) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        Stop trying to create confusion. Yes, the Water and Sewage Department is ailing and in need of CPR. But first let us look honestly at the source of the ailment. Let’s stop blaming the victim for the pain he/she is experiencing that was caused by others. The first step in solving a problem is acknowledging there is problem and finding the source(s) of the problem. Successive governments have miserably failed Water and Sewage. Water and Sewage should be a led by a technically qualified, seasoned/experienced civil engineer/related engineer. If the government cannot directly effectively managed it, outsource the function. The BVI should by now have a cadre of qualified people to take up any position from Premier to labourer. But the BVI did a very poor job training and educating its human capital, its primary resource. Let’s face it people. The BVI is natural resources poor, holding on to and banking on the highly fragile tourism and financial services industries. The BVI is a hot mess; it is not First World, nor is it Third World; it is in between.it should be First World. But that is water under the bridge. It needs to look full speed ahead with deep focus. Nonetheless, let’s stop the confusion. That was a tactic employed by others.
  • Me (03/02/2022, 22:15) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where I live don’t even have water pipes run yet. Imagine that.... last week I had to get my cistern filled from the truck man.
    Why as a tax payer living in 2022 can’t have street water?
  • Ne Timeas (04/02/2022, 00:07) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    The BVI has made some progress from a little sleepy hollow or some tagged it as the poor house of the West Indies. Though it boasts as having one of the highest standard of living, quality of life and per capita income in the region, it is still a Third World; it is definitely not First World. It had the means and opportunity to develop into a First World locale but poor planning slowed its progress. None of its systems are working effectively and not models for emulation. Health, education, water, sewage, electricity, roads, telecommunications/internet, ports, economic diversification, environmental protection, public safety, recreation, labour and immigration, etc, leaves much to be desired. The BVI should be farther along than it is. Being First World is a pretense, a mirage. True, all roads seem to lead into the BVI with over 120 nationalities calling it home or temporarily sojourning here but its popularity does not necessarily equate to progress. Residents are not feeling the progress. An unreliable supply of water is not progress. But the situation is not going to get resolve by talk; proactive action is urgently needed. Fellow blogger E. Leonard suggests structural adjustments, analyses ,etc and I endorsed the suggestions. Let’s geh ah dun!
  • third world (04/02/2022, 04:29) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    As long as our politicians and our citizens continue to think we are a 1st world country then thing will never get better. Since we are a 1st world country, then none of the politicians come with or try to develop a plan that will move this country along. They cannot think beyond a community center for the district and cut bush mentality. I hope next election there will be a few who will come with a concrete plan to increase revenue, develop the infrastructure and demand value for our dollar.
  • District 3 ? (04/02/2022, 06:15) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lived their for 10 years all when the honorable Julien had his own water plant and water still used to be off. This cat fake! Sea cows bay barely had water. What is he preaching about fixing what he ain’t did in 20 years he want fix now. Smh.
  • mad max (04/02/2022, 07:54) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    The only things first world here are the people imported to work and those who have lived outside of the BVI for long periods. The politicians and infrastructure belong in a dictatorial, corrupt isolated African country.
  • Eagle and Buffalo (04/02/2022, 09:30) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Whatever happen to BI-water, the Build-Operate-Turniover water deal that Hon Juilian “Liberator” Fraser engineered when he was Minister of Communications and Works under VIP? Bi-water created political pitch battles between NDP and VIP over several campaign cycles, ie, marches, protests, commentaries, talk show grandstanding, etc. It was perhaps a deciding factor in NDP victory at polls in 2011 and 2015. Of note, is that the NDP was vociferously oppose to the agreement. Consequently, it seems that when it took the helm of power there was a less than robust effort to improve the success of a legit and vital water project. For example, the build out of piping system was not completed by either the NDP in 8 years and VIP for 3 years. With all the fuss about BI-water, today, there is not even a whimper about it. Is the system fixed?

    Moreover, when is the plant going to be turn over to the government consistent with the Build-Operate-Turnover agreement? Is government ready and prepared to take over the plant, ie, operation, maintenance, repair, etc, staff trained? Who is Seven Seas and who has interests in it? What is Sir Richard B interest, if any, in it? It seems like some kind of cabol going on. The VI people deserve transparency on the status of BI-water and water resources in general. Thus, the Premier needs to brief the HOA, and the territory on BI-water and water resources. Specifically, the VI people need to know what the plan of action(s) is going forward. Let’s talk the talk and walk the walk. It is a cliche but it needs to be fleshed out.

    [Let’s lead like eagles, not careen off the cliff as buffaloes]
    • @R&B (04/02/2022, 13:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @E&B, you are on to something. There is a reason that the decibel level is low on BI-Water. The VI people needs the truth on BI-Water, ie, was the contract modified and who is benefitting? Additionally, how much control does the on paper director Pearline Scatliffe Leonard have over Water and Sewage Department?
  • good thing (04/02/2022, 10:29) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    When I had my house built, I build a cistern and a septic tank built also. At least I can enjoy a good shower and when the cistern is going low, I can call the truck man to full up my cistern.


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