Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has challenged the Virgin Islands to stop avoiding its water crisis and commit to a genuine fix rather than temporary measures.
In a video address on October 26, Penn identified three core failures: insufficient storage capacity, ageing and leaking pipes throughout the distribution network, and persistently low pressure. Despite heavy government spending on water production capacity, he noted, many residents still lack dependable supply.
A 2024 Auditor General's report showed that Biwater has received roughly $117.2 million over nine years. "That level of expenditure demands scrutiny," Penn said. "The public deserves answers about value for money, contractual obligations, and the reliability of the service being delivered."
Penn rejected the approach of patching individual problems without fixing the underlying system. The Opposition has put forward five goals: expand storage facilities on Tortola; secure water supplies for the Sister Islands; upgrade production capacity; overhaul failing pipelines; and examine the Biwater Seven Seas agreement.
Government's spending push
The administration has poured resources into water infrastructure, including rebuilding four reservoirs. Minister for Communications and Works Kye Rymer has consistently pointed out that production is not the bottleneck; rather, the territory's ageing pipes and related equipment are the real constraint.
From a $100 million loan secured in late 2024, roughly $8 million is going toward pipes, water meters, reservoir repairs, and system improvements. Cabinet has also greenlit an extra $5 million in funding for water work. The government is also using road construction projects as a chance to lay new water lines and upgrade existing ones.
Water scarcity in the territory is not new. Administrations over many years have grappled with the same problem.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first.