Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre seemed visibly upset on Monday as he made yet another passionate plea to St. Lucians as it relates to the island’s current water situation and in particular water harvesting.
The PM took issue with individuals making light of what has been described as an impending water crisis and using the current situation to score political mileage. PM Pierre says the water situation is far too important for political operatives to pedal misinformation in an effort to muddy the waters. “The fact is there is a water situation in St. Lucia and in the entire world because of climate change. Even though the prime minister changes the water situation will not improve. I just want the public of St. Lucia to understand that this water situation is not a political situation. It is a situation that we must, as a country, decide that we have to get involved in water storage and water harvesting. We have to. The government will and has continued to spend millions of dollars on improving the water situation in the country. We have issues with aged infrastructure; we have issues with distribution.”
While the history of WASCO is important in understanding the current issue, the Prime Minister insists that history needs to take a back seat at this time as the issue at hand is one of national importance. He went on to implore the citizenry to participate in water harvesting, as it is an easy immediate fix that will help ease the overall burden.
As it relates to politicizing the issue, the Prime Minister had this to say. “I want to implore, to beg the people of St. Lucia, do not allow politicians and people who are self-serving their own political persuasion to stop them from doing things that will improve their quality of life.” In response to misconceptions concerning to barging of water from the neighbouring island of Dominica, PM Pierre explained it was an initiative of The St. Lucia Hotels and Tourism Association (SLHTA) and other tourism industry entities with the support of the government. “I think the water situation in St. Lucia has been diluted by some utterances for selfish purposes, deliberately, about barging water from Dominica. I was clear…..and I am going to make it abundantly clear for all those who have ears let them hear. If the people of St. Lucia need water and I have to barge it from Timbuktu I will do it.
Pierre was adamant that the local press also had a responsibility in the dissemination of correct information to the general public.