Premier ‘stooped to a new low’ in Biwater blame game– Hon Fraser
Premier Wheatley, while speaking with JTV’s Cathy O. Richards during an October 30, 2023, interview, blamed the signing of the controversial Biwater contract as the beginning of the current water challenges plaguing the VI.
“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, speaking during an Opposition press conference on November 2, 2023, said the premier should not be blaming a contract signed 14 years ago for the production of water, after billions of dollars have been budgeted in the VI since then.
Late Ralph T. O'Neal brought Biwater - Hon Fraser
“I want him to know that he has stooped to a new low, by blaming his own party government. I [have] never seen that before but, anyhow, he thought he was coming after me. I'm not the one who did Biwater.”
Hon Fraser continued, “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 blasted the Premier for even saying that it was because of that Biwater contract that the VI didn't have money to fix the water issues.
“Well, someone please tell me how many billions of dollars in budgets that we have had over that 10-year period… I'm sorry, it's not ten years, it's 14 years, I should say from 2010 to now… How many billions of dollars in budgets we have had since then?” he said.
Gov't has no intention to fix water issues - Hon Fraser
He continued, “It tells me, and it should tell you the same thing, that there is no intention on the part of this government to fix the issues of water. That's unacceptable to me and it should be unacceptable to the public as well, and it can’t continue like this."
Dr Wheatley has already indicated that, during his administration’s tenure, he will solve the distribution of water issues across the VI. He said the recent contract signed to repair the road from Hodge's Creek to Paraquita Bay includes, "taking up the old pipes and replacing them with new pipes,” which would mean water distribution issues will be tackled at the same time as roads.
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