Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present an update on the water situation in the Territory, which I know is uppermost on the minds of many of our residents, who have been suffering from the lack of an adequate water supply for some time.

The Water and Sewerage Department is informing all residents that work to upgrade the pipes between Butu Mountain and the Belle Vue/Fort Hill junction will begin on Friday, July 3 and continue until Sunday, July 5 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily.

The purpose of the work is to replace the 6 inch and 8 inch water pipes in the area in order to improve the water distribution network. Residents on Fort Hill will be affected and are advised to take the necessary steps to store an adequate supply of water throughout this period.

The reservoirs on Virgin Gorda were filled with water on Wednesday, June 24, after 30,000 gallons was barged from Tortola to the sister island to provide some relief to residents who have been experiencing shortages.

The Water and Sewerage Department is advising its customers in the areas of Craft Alive and the Queen Elizabeth II Park that there will be no water supply on Saturday, June 20 between the hours of 7:00 am and 2:00 pm.

The Water and Sewerage Department is informing the residents of Virgin Gorda that water is currently being produced at a limited rate and water service interruption will continue daily at 7:00 pm until production reaches an optimal rate to fill tanks.

The Ministry of Communications and Works is notifying the public that Bi-water will commence works on the Road Town force main tomorrow, May 20.

The Ministry of Communications and Works through the Department of Water and Sewerage is informing the public and residents in areas between Fish Bay and McNamara who are experiencing water interruption, that water will return Thursday at 12:00 noon.

The Ministry of Communications and Works and the Water and Sewerage Department are informing the public that there will be an interruption to water supply in the Road Town area tonight from 9:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. tomorrow, April 20.

One phase of the National Sewerage Programme, from Beef Island to Long Swamp, has been successfully completed and work continues on other sections on Tortola as the Government of the Virgin Islands continues to work on remedying the sewerage problem throughout the Territory.

The Government of the Virgin Islands is defending its recent motion in the House of Assembly for the compulsory acquisition of a plot of land earmarked for a sewerage pumping station opposite the East End Police Station.