Penn wants dedicated water plant for cruise ships at pier

Cruise ships visiting the British Virgin Islands are tapping into the territory's already stretched water supply, and Opposition Leader Marlon Penn believes a separate production facility could solve the problem.

Speaking on a podcast, Penn proposed constructing a dedicated water plant with storage at the Cyril Romney Tortola Pier Park. The facility would serve vessels directly, he argued, allowing the public network to retain more water for residents facing ongoing shortages and outages.

Under Penn's plan, cruise ship operators would pay for their water supply at the dedicated plant. This arrangement, he suggested, would generate revenue while reducing the volume of water diverted from the public system. "If you have a market where the cruise ships are paying for the water, you build a plant there, focus on that plant with the requisite storage, and you service that area," Penn said.

The proposal reflects frustration over water scarcity across the territory. Residents have endured repeated interruptions, low pressure and extended outages despite government promises to improve conditions. Penn identified storage shortages as a central issue: existing reservoirs empty quickly and refill slowly because they depend on pumping from Sabbath Hill.

He called for expanding storage in densely populated areas to guarantee residents access to at least one week's supply. Penn also faulted the government for rolling out projects without a clear overall strategy. "We don't know what the plan is. We've been asking for it," he stated, signalling he would continue demanding transparency from the administration on its water management approach.