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The John Compton Dam photographed last week is reportedly stretched to the limit as are other reservoirs on island. Minister for Public Utilities Guy Joseph (inset) was in a meeting with WASCO officlals yesterday to discuss the way forward.
The Minister for Public Utilities Guy Joseph, according to reports reaching the STAR, met with the management of the Water and Sewerage Company yesterday to discuss an issue that is as much a crisis as is crime—water.
With St Lucia already undergoing a water rationing program, which leaves some without water for days, reports are that WASCO is looking to new measures to deal with the current drought—among them the possibility of importing the vital resource from sister isle Dominica and deep well drilling.
The STAR has learnt that the St Lucian government has approached Dominica for assistance. The website where the story was reported has been receiving a lot of attention from Dominicans who question whether they should be good neighbours or conserve water for themselves.
Says one blogger: “Dominica is less populated and has less stay-over tourists, therefore less stress on our resources. So when your neighbour’s house is on fire, you have to wet yours.”
“ . . . We realize that a lot of countries are currently looking towards Dominica to help supply their urgent need but we have to be very careful because over-committing our resources could leave us stranded,” said another
from the island which boasts a river for every day of the year.
With a drought warning issued by the Meterogical Office late last year many Caribbean countries are now feeling the effects of the drop in rainfall. Reports are that Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana are hardest hit. There has been a ban on watering lawns and washing vehicles as a means of saving the water in the countries’ reservoirs. In Trinidad water police have been deployed to ensure people are obeying the new rules. Guyana’s agriculture industry is severely threatened and this will cost the country millions in revenue.
At home, there is the view by some at WASCO that St Lucians are not taking seriously enough the current situation.
“We are stretched to the maximum and we are asking people to consider this when they are using the water
they do get,” said one official who spoke to us yesterday. “People need to police themselves.”
Efforts to reach the Public Utilities Minister or the general manager of WASCO yesterday were futile. More in Thursday’s STAR.
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We need more dams,. Global warming is causing this blight. I have been looking at the weather satellite for the last 6 months and moisture is always moving away from the West Indies, not good.
Mybe it is time that Government and wasco by extension starts thinking of Desalination plants. Whiles it is not the most palatable water, but it can be used for other household use. It does not have to be a regular water supply, just have on reserve for situations like what is being experienced right now. Other caribbean countries without a reliable fresh water supply has gone that route.
This approach will also create some new jobs we are desperately in need of.
thanks to the lazy workers at WASCO in soufriere.have they fix the pipe along the diamond road?they don’t care.water shortage please…… its their doing
If you live in the north try and rent a place in Soufriere or Choiseul soon because civilization as you know it is about to change.
[...] For more go to http://stluciastar.com/content/archives/11073 [...]
How can people be so ignorant? the whole Caribbean is being affected and people saying it’s wasco’s fault. Come on people open your eyes…I’m not saying that they are very reliable, but i believe they are doing the best they can. The company is facing so many problems besides the water shortage, so i can understand when they take a little while to respond to a burst pipe or something…it’s not cheap for them to come and do repairs and for a company that barely makes it, i would think people would see that…We need to play more of a role in saving our own a__….we always rely on other people to do what we should be doing for ourselves…i’m sure if we all come together instead of waiting for wasco we will make it…
in my humble opinion, Dominicans should be quick to help us when we need their help. I remember not too long ago when Dr Anthony was the leader of the country we help Dominica in their financial difficulties we paid their civil servants for a few months and help form policies to increase the government revenue collection to better manage the economy and pay civil servants
Too much development in the north while the rest of the island was ignored. How long can you use your toilet without flushing? How long can you go without a shower? How many dishes do you pile up on your kitchen counter? How many times do you wear your clothes before washing? How long before the super markets run out of bottled water? How much perfume masks the ambience?….This is a very bad situation, You don’t need Dominica, Soufriere and Fonds St. Jaques always has water and could supply the islands needs.