STATEMENT BY MINISTER FOR TRANSPORTATION, WORK AND UTILITIES HONOURABLE KYE M. RYMER

AT THE NINTH SITTING OF THE THIRD SESSION OF THE FOURTH

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

ON WATER INTERRUPTION  

THURSDAY, 13^TH MAY 2021

Mister Speaker, I’ve been made aware of an island-wide water interruption on the island of Anegada.  Mister Speaker this is due to a transformer that is no longer working.  I can assure you that the teams of the Water and Sewerage Department, they are working alongside with the BVI Electricity Corporation to rectify this matter, in the most expeditious manner possible.

Mister Speaker I would like to take this opportunity to let the residents of Anegada know that we are there with them and the business community as well; and we recognise these unforeseen occurrences and I give my pledge Mister Speaker to this matter to be rectified soonest.

Mister Speaker, please note that BVIEC is currently making arrangements to transport the new transformer to Anegada via barge by 3:30 this afternoon. We anticipate that this matter should be rectified by tomorrow the latest.  In the interim, we are looking into alternative ways of providing relief to the residents of Anegada. 

Mister Speaker, the territory seems to be plagued with a multitude of water issues, and we continuously hear the cry from the community.  Mister Speaker I must also say that, as residents ourselves, we too experience the inconveniences of the loss of this most valuable resources.  This is also compounded by this season of drought.  I would like to let the people of the Virgin Islands know that this Government continues to exhaust all options and resources to remedy these water woes.

Mister Speaker, I must recognize the valiant combined efforts of the staff of the Water & Sewerage Department and the BVI Electricity Corporation on pulling out all the stops to provide the people of Anegada with water within the next 24hrs.

Mister Speaker, that’s my brief statement and I thank you.