Government of St. Lucia refutes media claims of water importation from Dominica

CASTRIES, ST. LUCIA – The Government of Saint Lucia categorically refutes claims circulating in the local media about the importation of water from the Commonwealth of Dominica into Saint Lucia.

Government wishes to make it absolutely clear that no Government agency including the Water and Sewage Company has initiated or completed any process geared towards the procurement of water and subsequent importation into Saint Lucia.

The Minister for Communications, Works, Transport and Public Utilities, Hon. Guy Joseph stated recently that importation of water was not an option at this juncture and that the situation was sufficiently under control. The Minister further stated that importation of water was an extremely expensive option which would have to be avoided at all cost. The claims therefore within the local Press of water being imported into the island is completely unfounded and is only contributing towards the unnecessary heightening of anxiety and alarm.

CLICK HERE TO READ EARLIER NEWS REPORT ABOUT DOWASCO

Enquiries by the Office of Government Press Secretary with the General manager of the Water and Sewage Authority, Mr. John Joseph, President of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association, Mr. Anthony Bowen, and the General Manager of the Dominica Water and Sewerage Company (DOWASCO), Mr. Bernard Etinoffe confirm that no such process involving water importation from Dominica had been set in motion.

The Government of Saint Lucia would like to inform the public that there are certain requirements, which MUST be met in relation to the importation of water into Saint Lucian. This would involve the following:

  1. The submission of a certificate by the local interest to the Public Health Department of the Ministry of Health from the source of the water confirming that the water has met required standards.
  2. Provision of information to the Public Health Department of the Ministry of Health on the mode of transportation to Saint Lucia including date and Port of arrival.
  3. Imported water would have to be tested on arrival at the particular port to ascertain its suitability for consumption before it can be approved for consumption on the island.

The Water and Sewage Company has made it clear that it would not be prepared to add water from external sources into its supplies for fear of possible contamination. The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association on the other hand has declared that for the time being they are satisfied with the effort of the local Water and Sewage Authority in meeting their needs and managing the current situation.

Mr. Bowen explained that the SLHTA had simply made what he described as an exploratory move in writing to the DOWASCO to determine their willing to assist if required. During a telephone conversation between the Mr. Bernard Etinoffe, DOWASCO’s General Manager and Government’s Press Secretary, the Head of the Dominican water company confirmed that he did receive a letter from the SLHTA but that there were no discussions about actual shipment of water to Saint Lucia.

The Government of Saint Lucia assures the public that measures are being put in place to effectively manage existing supplies and to ensure that future demands are met. Cabinet is currently reviewing proposals involving the initiation of exploration for ground water sources.

Government encourages all Saint Lucians to cooperate with the measures currently in place under the recently issued Declaration of Water Related Emergency and further to employ necessary water conservation measures in their day to day activities.

Government reminds all Saint Lucians that the current situation is one of national concern that requires understanding and cooperation at all levels. Government therefore calls on all interest to desist from politicizing and or sensationalizing the current water situation.

Darnley Lebourne
Government Press Secretary

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

33 Comments

  1. Homeboy
    March 10, 2010

    This is an interesting twist. I do appreciate the Press Secretary from ST Lucia trying to ease the tention. I want to sat two things:
    Firstly, regardless of where the water comes from, mountain side, wells, aquifers etc; any importation of H2O from anywhere would warrant the respective government that is doing the importation, to of course, perform tests to determine just how potable it is.. So for the testing part, that should be S.O.P (STD operating Proceedure).
    Secondly, the manner in which the St Lucia media put the response of GOSL, warrants all D/cans to feel as if they ,(GOSL), feel as if DA is using recycled water from Sewer treatment plants to drink.

    All my life I grew up considering Lucians and D/cans to be brother/ sister but it is apparent from their communique they felt they have eloped into a more economically advanced nation.

    St Lucia take heed, we are all on the inner volcanic arc. You never know when you will require assistance. Mt Pelier in Martinique, Soufriere in Montserrat?

    I agree with the person who commented on CARICOM. Everybody using it for their own personal gain.. There will never ever be one Caribbean. Too much selfishness and greed..
    Heavenly Father Yahweh, continue to bless thus land called Dominica.. Our Coat of Arms says it best. After the Heavenly Father , comes the earth.

  2. blazer
    March 10, 2010

    @ LL lol i agree with you 100%..Dominicans and Lucians sound look and act alike yet Lucian think they better because of their success in tourism marketing.. if it ws not for the hotels like sandals who would know jack???? So much alike yet they wanna act like we too small to help..I though tit would have been privilege to get water from Natures Island of all things you acting fresh lol.. Them hotels should get the water and reconsider doing business in Dominica.ECO TOURISM IS BOOMING.

  3. LL
    March 9, 2010

    Some of the people from St. Lucian too fool of themselves. they think they better than Domincans… That press statement about contamination to their water supply, Is St Lucia water that will contaminate our pure water in Dominica, they so rude and out of place to talk about contamination, I cant drink tap water in St.Lucia.. Would be nice for DOWASCO not to sign any agreement with them if it reach that point with Lucia Government, they just too fool of themsleves and cant do a thing. I would not leave Dominica for St.lucia me… all they have is more hotels than us and some of thier roads a lil better,, all that crime and drugs me…. leave me in My Dominica. If you walkinig on Castries road and you touch some by mistake you can get into trouble.. me what I want to leave in that place for… I am not in Dominca right now.. I am in the states and yes there’s more cirme there, than in st.lucia but i rather leave up here than st.Lucia every day. DOWASCO supply water to the Hotel association if needed and forget the government of St.Lucia let them seek water elswhere they too up and fresh.

  4. D
    March 9, 2010

    boy look JOBOM!!!!!! every thing is political for some people!!

  5. blazer
    March 9, 2010

    Well it just looks like Lucia didn’t want ppl to know they getting the water from Da. Them ppl have pride just like any other island but come on.. If you declared the situation a crisis and your neighboring island Dominica which is a rain forest on steroids we got an abundance of water.. you think of water in the Caribbean u think Dominica damn why u wanna trip over some pride sht like that. Suck it up cause LUCIANS GOING TO GET THE WATER ANYWAYS. We would never sit by and watch our sister island suffer like that when we can do something about it. Even if you guys denied it the offer still stands you would always get assistance from us. I mean if it was us i am sure they would help us out as well. unless they decide to drill for stagnant ground water or recycled sea water over 100% rain forest purified water. Test the water or not Dominica water is the purest and best tasting water in the region.

  6. Fanchiface
    March 9, 2010

    So what is wrong with getting water from Dominica? Is it a crime St. Lucian authorities. Like one blogger said earlier this thing about Caricom and OECS is just damn rubbish cause we see how this things will never work everyday in our attitudes towards each other in the different islands. But i was never in favour of we helpin anybody if they do have and we give them when we need who is going to give us. Certainly not them. Dem Lucians to damn up.

  7. The Day Has Come
    March 9, 2010

    Ebe look nonsense.. I don’t care how the story result to “DOMINICA OFFERING HELP TO ST.LUCIA BY SUPPLYING WATER”, the whole point is, something along that line was discussed and agreed upon. Don’t worry, soon they will really need the water, but we will not do like others. mmmmmmmmmmmm

  8. Hmmm...
    March 9, 2010

    Look kicks… Dem st lucians too damn up eh… Always believing they better than Dominica…. That’s cool… Iz ok u kno…. Because things just might get worst for them….

  9. Oberver
    March 9, 2010

    what a stuid comment, don’t we all expect you to sanitize whatever water before distributing it to your people. You should apologise to Dominicans for making such an insensitive comment, making it look like our water is insanitary.

  10. Thoughtful
    March 9, 2010

    I am happy the Press Secretary of the Government of St. Lucia (GOSL) added his voice to this blog following his press release because many people here are under the impression that the Lucians are snubbing Dominica.

    People need to read carefully before they comment. No agency of the GOSL made any requests or even inquire into getting water from Dominica. The inquiry was made by the St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association. From reading the two stories no deal was signed and then there was a sudden withdrawal from the deal.

    And even if the GOSL had made a request due process would have to be done including testing the water. This is just common sense because certainly the water would not have been taken at the source way up in the mountain where it is the purest. Even then the possibilities exist that it could get contaminated in transit, maybe by the ship itself, and so on.

    So stop making the Lucians look bad.

  11. Darnley Lebourne - GOSL Press Secretary
    March 9, 2010

    Let me thank the managment Dominica News Online for posting the Press Statement from the Government of Saint Lucia on this matter. The Statement was formulated to refute stories circulating in some elements of the Saint Lucian media regarding the importation of water from Dominica. The statement in no way attempted to diminish the status of Dominica as a sister Caricom state.

    I personally admire Dominica for its strides in terms of environmental/heritage conservation. There are no doubt lessons to learn from DA in that respect. The fact is there were only enquiries, not request. My discussion with Mr. Etinoffe yesterday confirmed that. Lets avoid the insularity. Our theme for Saint Lucia’s anniverssary of Independence this year was: “Tout Sent Lisyen se Yonn”. I would like to apply this to this situation by saying: “Tout Sent Lisyen ek Domnitjen se Yonn”. Mr. Etinoffe exemplified that spirit during our discussion yesterday, by giving the assurance that the DOWASCO is willing to help if called upon to do so. The fact is there was an enquiry, not a request. Nou tout se Yonn.

  12. March 9, 2010

    So where all this talk came from, are we saying that we in Dominica in no position to help our nabours?

    This what am talking about when we talk about CARICOM. cant you all see that we are getting no place.
    this is the reason PM what is in the best intrest intrest for Dominica.

    My people , lets be stroung hold tight and fight the good fight.

    peace to all.

  13. FattDoll
    March 9, 2010

    Doh worry…Mr. Ettinoffe..next time make sure you have them on tape begging us for water…so they will not be able to deny it….. oh “The Water and Sewage Company has made it clear that it would not be prepared to add water from external sources into its supplies for fear of possible contamination”…Stuppesssssssssssssssssssssss.

    Let St. Lucians go and fly their kite tan…people willing to help all you and even want to be cutting style….When they will be using their bath water to drink they will come back and will NOT receive help.

    Damn rude and fresh!

  14. Hmm
    March 9, 2010

    Same so Anguilla said we never gave them money but when the Government changed, it all came out in the open that they had indeed received monies from us.

    Tanto, tanto St Lucia…..is so all of you think you better than us. We will keep out water that we can drink straight from the river. Imagine St Lucia talking about the possibility of Dominica’s water contaminating their own? What a laugh. I guess the recent experiences of places like Haiti still has not opened our eyes to the realities of us living in a ‘”very small world”..where no man is an island.

  15. Concerned
    March 9, 2010

    Every time Dominica help a country the people always like to deny they got the help.

  16. Irie
    March 9, 2010

    Garcon, forget them lucians eh….that is a varrie sal they trying on us there…our water will ‘contaminate’ their supplies? Oh our clean fresh pure water those satie copawaison talking about?….well let them run out of water in their backside, so we can watch them drink their pipi. stupes

  17. Toot Too bouche
    March 9, 2010

    All of all you back peddle.Continue to act like “Dominica” she too poor to help us.but remember the first shall be the last and the last the first.

    I know Mr Etinoffe not a mad man and further more DA owe no man nothing and i have already said all this OECS and CARICOM is lip service.A bunch of grown folks taking over fancy hotels and nothing comes to fruition.

    We will keep our water because we donot want to contaminate WASCO lines. How pathetic!Well DA you know who is on your side and who is not.They say all D/cans related to St.Lucian,beginning with me (my grandmother came from Monchy,Gros Islet)and on the ground in Lucia they’re not as quick to condemn as the few comments on here.

    Be quick to listen D/cans and slow to speak (blog)

  18. too much
    March 9, 2010

    The water they were planning to send to St Lucia they better just preserve it because WE might be needing it soon. when your neighbour house on fire you need to wet yours. And starting from now to tank water is a way of ‘watering our house’ against that water shortage.

  19. too much
    March 9, 2010

    All of allu jump on DOWASCO back and PM back. The problem is that those other little countries think Dominica too small and too poor to help them. Is like ‘how dare little begging Dominica say they helping me. I dont need Dominica Help’. Let their throat stay dry with their pride. Kopawayzon sans salayzon. They were negotiating self. St Lucia just vex it probably cause a stir and people start to panic. Allu really think Dowasco would come out with a report about that when it never reach so far? And Dowasco DID say that they were on standby to help. About the time they would be filling tanks is just smaller details that they had been discussing. I never see a people so quick to believe anybody that say something different from their very own people boi. Is always the Dominican side that lying. Like those mothers that used to beat their child anytime somebody tell them something about the child. And those that never believe their children, uintil the boyfriend/husband realize the benifit he could get out if the mother stupidity and start abusing the children in the house. Stay so Dominicans, westay la.

  20. THUNDER HORSE
    March 8, 2010

    The rest of the Caribbean just think that Dominica is too small and poor to help them out, I hope we taking note because when we travel, we like to say that things are bad in Dominica publisising our country negatively, dont worry they willl really need us someday;

  21. March 8, 2010

    This problem is the fault of the media, whatever the source. Too often false or unconfirmed data is processed releasing false or unconfirmed information. The media needs to get out of the information printout based on the concept called, HE SAID SHE SAID. This sort of lack of responsibility can be embarrassing, uncomfortable, and even devasting to all people, government, and organization of society.
    A couple weeks ago Gordon Lightfoot was driving on his way from his doctor, when he heard the broadcast that the media had pronounced him dead. Can you imagine the carelessness and lack of concern for other people’s circumstances?

  22. Oberver
    March 8, 2010

    Dominicans we need to put our heads up high and stop stooping to such petty nonesence, why do our neighboring Islanders, both Government and citizens keep treating us as step children, who are not capable of doing any good. They are so quick to denounce our effort or support like we are begging for their recognition. Dominica is a beautiful country rich with beauty and natural resources, we are blessed and proud of it.

  23. L
    March 8, 2010

    Well Etinoffe seems to have been pretty clear that the request came from the SLHTA.

    I do not like the tone of that release. It is almost like the issue is more about the misconception about importing water from Dominica rather than quelling fears that the siuation in SLU is that bad.

    What is so adhorrent about importing water from Dominica? Are we not known for 365 rivers?

    I hope for their sake that their situation does not eventually warrant having to in fact import water from Dominica.

  24. optimist
    March 8, 2010

    so y say they were shipping water when they weren’t….DOWASCO even went as far to say that they wont be taking water during peak consumption hours…but these people not easy. y lie to people and say one thing when is another. if st. lucia ask u to keep on stand by just in case the situation gets worse, then tell us just that…not anything else but the plan facts…this is real JOBOMMMMM!!!!! Weh boy…D/ca have some real jokes eh!

  25. Diedra Summers
    March 8, 2010

    Domincans like to run to the media. Due process people due process… is like we too get excited too quickly

  26. SET
    March 8, 2010

    It seems Dominica to small to help any of these fellow Caribbean countries. The day will come when they all be knocking our doors. We shall still give a helping hand.
    We Dominicans accept when things are bad with us and accept and welcome help no matter where it comes from. Let’s keep our head high Dominicans. We are self sufficient.

  27. DVT
    March 8, 2010

    what rubbish is this?

  28. steve
    March 8, 2010

    Dowasco needs to explain to Dominicans and if need be apologise, The pm lied about giving other islands money to help them with their economic situation now its a manager of another Government entity. This misleading facts if they are right is poor judgement on the Managers part and i will be the first to ask for his resignation. If he could be wrong about and misleading about this what other poor judgements and comprehension of the facts can her have wehn it relates to other situations.

  29. Jayson
    March 8, 2010

    Who’s telling the truth?

  30. Domlucian
    March 8, 2010

    Too much roro over a good deed!!!! Do good and U get a kick in ur ass!!! Dowasco keep all U water eh they don’t appreciate the kindness!!!

  31. Anonymous
    March 8, 2010

    But de article write no Govt institution, the St. Lucia hotel and tourism association is not govt and the article stated dat DOWASCO was looking to help dat institution meaning the SLHTA

  32. okkkkk
    March 8, 2010

    way papa/ look jobom!!!…

  33. L
    March 8, 2010

    This one warrants a HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available