Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s recent statements regarding the possibility of purchasing water from a Trinidad and Tobago-based company have caused surprise among many Dominicans. Despite Dominica’s water-rich nature, residents have expressed their confusion about why Browne would bypass the island’s resources and look elsewhere.
“I thought he and Roosevelt Skerrit were buddies…how he can bypass Dominica…” one woman wrote on Facebook.
“Wait. Trinidad? But we are a mere minutes away…”, another questioned
Browne has expressed his frustration with the ongoing water crisis on the island, despite his administration investing a significant amount of money to address the situation.
The Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) has been presented with two options, one from a local company, Caribbean Water Treatment, and the other from a Trinidad and Tobago-based company.
“We will be buying water, if not from Caribbean Water Treatment, a firm out of Trinidad. I know APUA is looking at the two proposals now and to determine which firms can meet their needs,” said Browne, hinting at the possibility of privatizing some sections of the APUA.
“Our preference would be to work with a local company, assuming it can meet our needs and within the timelines that have been established. If that doesn’t work then we would have to significantly resolve the water issue in this country”, Browne said
Browne has hinted at the possibility of privatizing sections of the APUA to achieve that objective but has also emphasized his preference for working with a local company that can meet the Authority’s needs in a timely manner.
During his radio programme, Browne expressed his frustration with the management of the Water Division at APUA, stating that he believes they can do better with the distribution.
Nevertheless, he expects improvements to happen during the coming year, with an additional reverse osmosis plant [Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification process that uses a semi-permeable membrane to separate water molecules from other substances].
This set to become operational by the second half of 2024, producing three million gallons of water daily.
wow. Talk about not getting all the information on something said by the Gaston Browne administration. It’s not about buying water from T and T. it is about producing the water. All the political hacks on here without facts. Just spouting nonsense. Does Dominica had the capacity to produce all that water via a desalination. Its that kind of water folks
But it is your kind I like to tell shut up!
Here you are without a name babbling crap as if you’re informed more than everyone else!
For your information, and say I told you; there are at least four desalination plants in Antigua, along with two surface water treatment plants, with a series of ponds and a few wells.
And that’s how thus far the country agricultural, municipal, domestic, and commercial needs are met!
Tell you what; because of the effectiveness in dealing with their water system they used it to grow sweet potatoes and sell to dumb Dominicans with more than three hundred rivers at their disposal.
If the information I received today is correct they may have a fifth plant which does not function well due sand getting into the lines when the ocean is rough!
The last time I went to Antigua, when the evening falls, I saw the most water irrigation, I’ve never seen in Dominica!
And that is why they can now produce and sell to us what we once sold to them.
our leaders will be looked at as fools and traitors in the future to come and by their very own children and children’s children. the leaders of today are failures to the people they are put to lead but time will tell
antigua gets rain. make it law and a tax break that every home have to collect rain water in 200 to 500 gal big tanks. i was a video out of india where the people put swals in the mountains to retain the water, and build natural dams. the dams were used for agriculture in the dry seasons and also for fish farming. with the rain water, government will help with the micro treatment equipment to purify the drinking water.
St. Thomas has many of those ..swals, and, no water. Different issues.
Dominicans, your all don’t realise that what will happen is the water Gaston talking about will be produced in Antigua via reverse osmosis i.e. sea water made into potable water. Antigua has been doing this since 1968. What he said is its possible that a Trinidadian company may be contracted to do this. Companies out of St. Martin and Ireland had done this in the past for Antigua. Antigua Public Utilities Authority has been building these plants since 1968 and they shortly will be building one that will produce 3 million gallons of water daily. Antigua suffers from drought so they have to do this.
By the way for the past few years, all the potable water in Antigua are from reverse osmosis. So Dominicans, no water will be shipped from Trinidad to Antigua, it will be produced on site in Antigua.
Karl Charles you should check out a presentation at the CWWA last month in Guyana on this very topic
https://youtu.be/zkFRQmN_EeA?si=OtVXkEfmnBmUH5wr
Thanks !!!!!!!! Gaston Brown for not buying water from Dominica, but you saw fit and convenient in the kidnaping of Mehul Choks, find it fit to send him to dominica to your best friend skerrit, but could[‘nt find it fit to buy water from dominica
Skerrit karma is B ,both you and gaston brown have to answer for that , just a mater of time ,who laugh last ,laugh the best .
DNO, I expected that you would have reached out to DOWASCO on this matter to get the company’s reaction to this “hint.” As early as 2010, you printed a story in which DOWASCO spoke on the subject of water exports. Years later, Manager Ettinoffe was also interviewed on public radio on the same matter. CEO Bardouille of DASPA is also on public record informing of the volumes of water that Dominica sells to visiting cruise ships.
The problem for Dominica is that there are political actors who prey on the ignorance and intellectual frailty of many. So, any snippet of information in a vacuum is a cause for a whole waylay waylay and thus, ignorance is perpetuated.
Antigua is not seeking to buy water from any other country. I think you mist understand. Antigua is seeking to work with a company who can supply a water plant to supply water in Antigua, which is a reverse osmosis etc.
The Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica and its proxy companies cannot meet the water, electricity and other energy and fuel needs of Dominica even with the assistance of the Venezuela Petro Caribe, but somehow Dominicans believe their government when it says it wants to export water, electricity or even agricultural produce!? Boy Dominicans well Dom In de Can, zort marjee under AM PM Skerrit Starboy of stupidity! Don’t worry soon we will be exporting bouyon and gambling to the word!
but not funny, our children will pay for this our delinquency!
I hear we do not have a Prime Minister anymore, we have a bouyon boss by the name of World Boss! This place is one big crying shame of a sad joke as we laugh with this AM PM foolishness but Dominica is sinking!! Hahahahahahahaha
Ahh all the way to Trinidad, when the Indian River can reach St. John’s? There might be a better deal in Australia.
I just love negroes, and I know exactly when to use that term.
Hence the Hitler mustachio. I wonder what this brother thinks of Israel and the white fake-jews?
How is the water from Trinidad getting to the Antiguan pipes? Is it via a company setting up or already setup in Antigua? Cause it can’t be bottled water. Is it via a tanker like an oil tanker? Can Dominica meet those requirements.
Whereas some people will become irate that Gaston Brown decided to purchase or buy water from Trinidad, rather than Dominica, one have to take into consideration it could all be about convenient process!
If by any chance we are talking about buying water bottled in Dominica, that can be shipped on a wind Jammer from Dominica, then the issue could be debated.
Now, knowing that Antigua may have a greater need for bulk delivery of water, considering they do not have any springs nor rivers, they may need delivery of water in multi-millions; of gallons: a water tanker may be needed to transport such large amount of water.
Such Tankers are similar to Oil Tankers which are not in Dominica, but are in abundance in Trinidad!
On the other hand Gaston might not wish to spend Antigua money in Dominica with the knowledge that he would be aiding the economy of Dominica. All of that is good for Roosevelt; he thinks they are his friends, but they laugh in his face, and make a fool out of him.
skerrit did not fulfill brown dirty job about chusie…brown wanted him to send him back to his native land…but d plane came late so d plan back fired…oh those miserable men…your days are coming….freedom party ms. Charles sold bulk water….but skerrit only selling passports….if not passport what…? to make his good pals more rich….block headed people….it will never be like that forever….
The truth is the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica through Dominica Water and Sewerage Company (DOWASCO) submitted NO proposals to Antigua and Barbuda nor any country as a matter of fact.
Invest Dominica Authority (IDA) which is supposed to be looking for external investment opportunities not bothered to explore water exports because is little bit money.
You know why? Because the SALE of Commonwealth of Dominica PASSPORTS is more lucrative. No work plenty passport money…LOL
The truth is the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica through Dominica Water and Sewerage Company (DOWASCO) submitted proposals to Antigua and Barbuda nor any country as a matter of fact.
Invest Dominica Authority (IDA) which is supposed to be looking for external investment opportunities not bothered to explore water exports because is little bit money.
You know why? Because the of Commonwealth of Dominica PASSPORTS is more lucrative.
I have a River for sale. Call me.
it appears like Antigua will be ready with the reverse osmosis project before Dominica could get Dowasco to benefit from such a lucrative venture.
if Browne had approached local Chinese he would have been able to secure a deal outside of Skerrit influence except under de table
It’s simple Dominica cannot meet the capacity to export the water that Antigua would need.
Stop that; the only issue might be bulk delivery; but Dominica has as much water as Trinidad!
Then again I do not know how you interpret, or define your term ” It’s simple Dominica cannot meet the capacity to export the water that Antigua would need” I do not understand that!
These are the names of the rivers in Trinidad & Tobago:
Caroni River
Lalland River
Oropouche River
Salybia River
Mathura River
Maracas River
Shark River
Caura River (also known as Tacarigua River)
Valencia River
Caparo River
I know about ten; nevertheless, when I was a kid in kindergarten in School in Wesley they taught me that there are three hundred sixty-five rivers flowing into the ocean in our country, that does not include feeders rivers and springs.
@derp, how did you arrive at that conclusion?
You m*d na? Treatment company already in place, is only storage tanks which Antigua already has. We probably need business minded people in Dexia to achieve deals.
That might be why they are aware of the TnT deal but not a Dexia deal.
That is not our business. What all you vex about? your government doing everything in its might to ruin the country and bring it under their total control. See what the repercussions are. They bypass the nature island, place with the cleanest water in the eastern caribbean, and decide to go for Trinidad. you know why? Capacity. they can produce more for much less.
No way. All it takes is storage tanks and retrofitted badge and Antigua already has some.
But Dominicans what is all the fuss about, does Dominica have a bulk water exporting facility? Remember how AM PM Skerrit criticized and humiliated Arthie Martin and derailed Arthie’s bulk water exporting project idea because Arthie stopped supporting Skerrit?
Why did AM PM Skerrit never set up a bulk water exporting facility in Dominica? Where is Kubuli Water, how much support did they get from AM PM Skerrit after the hurricane Maria?
AM PM told you all if not passports then what? Go and tell him water! Dominica exports nothing! Calm down Dominicans, calm down. You all are too reactionary while accepting poopoo from your government!
@truth be told, please stop with your dishonesty, Athie got the license while he was strongly opposed to the government and he could not get off his lazy backside to get it off the ground. And how did Skeritt derailed this project?
Exactly! This government once more has been found asleep on the wheel. Only words we hear from this corrupt and useless CM. Hot air, that’s what mister is all about.
Good for all you DA. Take it like a grain of salt as the UK lady said.
That place to corrupt, people afraid to make business with DA government.
Well Sar.
Since Trinidad is a CARICOM partner what is the problem with Antigua Prime Minister going to them to satisfy the water shortfall in that island? Do some people want to run things for the Antigua government? Also reliability is crucial when deciding to do business and buy a commodity. Everyday on DNO there is a notice from Dwasco apologizing for interruption in the water supply to some community in the country. Does that inspire confidence in a potential buyer? It wouldn’t surprise me if Dowasco is a major source of revenue for DNO with the continuous interruption in water supply. Also does Dwasco or other Dominican company have the necessary infrastructure to seamlessly deliver the specs required by Antigua. When there are multiple sources in competition to supply a commodity the buyer can select whoever they want to win the contract. Skerritt does so all the time even issuing no bid contracts in contravention to the existing laws in the country.
ADMIN: Why is single out DNO? These announcements go out via radio and other media.
@Jonathan Y St. Jean, you clearly don’t live in Dominica, if you did you would know that Dominica does not have a water shortage and with the proper infrastructure could export water. The interuptions by Dawasco is not as a result of lack of water but maintenance and expansion.
Outraged about what? If we want to sell water in bulk we should put the infrastructure in place. We could also just lease a river to Antigua let them take all the water they want…
Business sensible and on Point!!! Gaston and company should be allowed to manage the entire supply chain.
Dominica may not have oil like Guyana; however, our abundant water supply is a greatly untapped natural blessing and liquid “gold”. Maybe Gaston was not offered a big enough buddy or friend discount.