'Main challenge' with water was created with signing of Biwater contract– Premier
Dr Wheatley was at the time speaking with JTV’s Cathy O. Richards during an October 30, 2023, interview while addressing concerns raised by the Opposition in a recent press conference on issues in the territory.
“Members that are the Opposition sit down with Honourable Julian Fraser…. talked about water. The main challenge that has been created as it pertains to water in this territory came with the signing of the contract with Biwater,” the Premier said unapologetically.
Hon Fraser was the Minister for Communications and Works when Biwater was brought in to the VI.
He added, “At the time when we signed that contract with Biwater, we owned a water production plant in Baughers Bay and we did not have to pay a soul for the production of water, because we owned the plant, that plant came from the Investment Club and it came over to the government,” he related.
The Premier has been criticising the Biwater deal from the inception and even led protests against it. “At that point, our focus should have been putting our monies and our resources into the distribution of water so it can get from the reservoirs to people's homes," he told Ms Richards.
VI spending $23M to produce water
He said as a result of the contract, the VI is paying upwards of $23 million to produce water, which was not necessary the Premier detailed.
“That same $23 million could have gone into the distribution of water, those resources should have been properly placed in the distribution of water. Now it's left to us to be able to get loans to be able to deal with the distribution of water. It's going to take time,” he said in reference to his Government's efforts to address the situation.
Dr Wheatley added that the VI will continue spending that type of money until the contract for Biwater is over, as there is no clause that can get the government out of it.
“So it was a very damaging contract for the people of the Virgin Islands and we are now living with the consequences of that. In addition to that contract that was signed, two administrations passed since then, 2011 and 2015, before we got to of course, obviously the Hurricanes came in 2017, but what can we say that was significantly done to invest in the distribution of water between 2011 and 2017? Nothing was done,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Wheatley affirmed that during his administration’s tenure, he will solve the distribution of water issue.
He explained that the recent contract signed to repair road from Hodge's Creek to Paraquita Bay includes, "taking up the old pipes and replacing them with new pipes,” he said while adding that the water issues will be tackled at the same time with the roads.
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27 Responses to “'Main challenge' with water was created with signing of Biwater contract– Premier”
If you guys continue to play this mind games crap, you will definitely regret it come next election.
Ronnie and the gang started with the talking bull crap and you as Premier should shut it down but being innovative with solutions not blaming sides.
A set of mumu we have in office!
Part of the water production and distribution problem is structural. The Centralized-Decentralized structure of the Water and Sewage Department is counterproductive to effective operation and delivery of quality services. The responsibility for running the department was split between the Water and Sewage Department, and the Ministry of Communications and Works. This splitting of responsibilities didn’t portend for an effective and efficient operation. The Director had the title but lacked the full control of the operation to be effective. Under these conditions and matrix organization style, the poor performance of the delivery water services is not surprising. Further, the department was not properly staffed. The Water and Sewage Department as Public Works Department should have and must be led by an engineer. There should also be other engineers in the department. The splitting between the Department and Ministry adversely impacted maintenance and repair,quick response to urgent/emergency work requests, slow response and actions on water leaks, resulting in lost revenue opportunities. Furthermore, the Water and Sewage Department was severely underfunded to meet staffing, maintenance and operations, capital projects construction, capitalization, etc, needs. Last year there was a news feed stating that the annual operating cost was $26,000,000 but the department only took in $5,000,000. Consequently, due to that huge delta, it is my conclusion that the department cannot be self-sufficient and will have to be subsidized from the rest of government, for customers would not be available to afford the rates which would be needed to make it self-sufficient. Clearly the Water and Sewage Department, vital and critical provider of water services must be revamped and urgently. It becoming a statutory body is not going to solve its issues. IMO many of the current statutory bodies should be departments.
This guy protested what exactly?
The Investment Club was robbing the government, charging huge amounts of monies for water (and cell phone use)
The distribution was deplorable before Bi water, but they did not care because they were charging for water made, not water delivered. It poured on the ground, at a cost to the people.
What about the water pipes that sat exposed in the hot sun for over 3 years, despite them clearly printed NOT to expose them to any sunlight as they were meant to be buried?
Then they use the same damaged pipes and now wonder why they leak constantly? Outrageous.
Frazier made an unpopular decision as it was best for all of us, not just a few of the already wealthy club.
Bi water was going to fix both the distribution AND the sewage, for less than the investment club charges, but guess what?
Investment club got control of government and prevent it happening.
Wasn’t Marks company the clowns that put in the improper pump station for sewage? causing problems all now, but they got their monies so all good i guess.
The problem was created by greed, which is our usual motivator.
The problem still exists because of incompetence.
The arrogance of todays leaders make it unlikely that things will get better.
Certainly no faith in this guy, he has done nothing but talk and travel.
And now a proven liar…
Your not suppossed to blaim others.
You suppossed to make sure things work well
And, since it's publicly regulated and was paid for by the Crowns funds, where can we all get to READ such a contract?
You see, the lack of transparency in this country's finances and dealings, have us where we are today!
Instead of complaining, Premier, lay out the contract so we all can read, and determine for ourselves, what is a good, and bad deal!
These types of feeble responses, you tend to portray, to make the people believe that you're trying, when in reality, you've never been willing, or able, to do anything-these types of folies, will not go across us anymore!