Officials from St. Lucia’s water company say they may have to consider deep well drilling as a means of addressing the shortage of water on the island.
Late last year, the Met office issued a drought watch for the first three months of 2010. As a result, the Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO) has embarked on a water rationing program.
Residents now have to adjust to the shortage of water and have been asked to conserve this scarce resource.
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Hmmm….
I here Mr. Opportunity knocking on the door. I hear Mr. GDP wanting to be increased by a couple of percents. I also hear Mr. Common sense saying “Hey, let us not rush in even if opportunity is knocking and looks inviting. Let us build a business plan that will take into account such things as market research, and the right expertise and structure to have a sustainable economic impact. Let us make sure that we educate the locals about effective business models – so that we do not import foreign experts and companies whose profit margin will be funneled to their home country. Much too often, small countries/islands, like Dominica, will open up an opportunity to a multi-national corporation, because they do not have the home country experts to operate that type of business venture. This always comes into evidence when it is a large scale enterprise.
Operating on local basis is one thing. However, an international business platform requires a different skill-set in order to maintain sustainable growth. I am not saying that all business that eminates from Dominica has to be owned and operated by Dominicans, because international investors are a critical part of any economy. However, we have to make sure that our people are educated, and have the expertise to be economically competively on a regional or global scale – if the opportunity presents itself. So, if it is water we are going to sell, let us do it the right way…
Where there is no vision, the people perish. I believe, if we do not pay attention to the fact that in may areas of Dominica, citizens go without water, we will have a situation worse than what is being experienced in St Lucia. In many parts of the island, citizens go without water sometimes for more than eight hours EVERY DAY, sometimes for days at a time – and I am talking about personal experiences here. DOWASCO, as far as I am concerned, are reintroducing the ‘bucket era’ where everything we do that requires water is being done from a bucket. And you are talking about that situation in February, makes me wonder what will happen during the really dry season..worse yet, in the upcoming years. I wonder if DOWASCO, or the Govt, have a plan to address this issue. I wonder if we even recognize that we have an issue. May, God bless our nation. May he rise up among us a generation of men and women with vision.
Hello,
we in st.maarten could use a river too
Well it is time we make money on something we have in abundance. So i wonder if we can bring out bocket full and sell it to them personally…huh.. O BY THE WAY ST.LUCIA NEEDS TO LET THOSE ANTIGUANS KNOW WHERE TO GET WATER.
H2o, the must have commodity for the 21st century. The nature isle has it in abundance, she should cherish and protect it; but should also extract some well deserved revenue from its most precious of commodity
nice opportunity to make some money.. but they better handle the deal well and enact some laws to better protect our water and eco systems
While we are thankful for our “abundance of water, please let us remember that our conservation laws need to be enforced. No longer can we continue to cut down trees, whereever we feel. We have to protect our rivers.
Now who said we needed sun, sea and sand. Give me water any day. Stop cutting down the trees.
All I can say is that, When your neighbour’s house on fire wet yours.
only when THE LAST PLANT HAS DIED,THE LAST RIVER HAS DRIED, is when we will see we CAN’T EAT MONEY. dowasco better listen.
LOL . I have a better Idea. Lets make them coem to Dominica and they can get the water free.
We canna jus be sellin water to ppl cheap like dt. Make them come here an get it.!!! Nobody givin us cheap oil eh
uhm please read this again. its not DOWASCO . Its Wasco in st lucia. we do not have any present drought. guess u got it mistaken.
A few Months back I made a comment on the water deals that were made with local and foreign interest regarding our seem to be the abundance of water supply in our beautiful Island. This article brings to our attention how serious this issue is becoming not just for the region but for the entire world.
It is our responsibility to help our neighbors, however my concern is not with them. I believe that the biggest challenge we face is with the Multi National Corporations that have as their Blue Print, the tendency to Rape, Abuse, Exploit everything they get their hands on, in the pursuit of Big Profits.
One just need to take a look at recent history. It’s in the their DNA, it is the very way they operate, no regards for human life or mother nature.
That being said, Water is becoming a scarce commodity all over the world, and they know it. And they are planning accordingly to control and dominate who gets what.
Their initial steps are made with friendly gestures, then they bribe the leaders and when that doesn’t work they destabilize.
Don’t take my word for it, do some research, Its real.
Colombia====what they have? Coca, Drug, Big Money === WAR
Panama =====what they have? Panama Canal=====WAR
Venezuela====Oil==== WAR
HAITI, Iraq, Africa I can go on and on, were there is a high value resource or a area that serve as strategic interest there is WAR or Had WAR or DESTABILIZATION
Dominica is less populated and has less stay-over tourists, therefore less stress on Her resources so when your neighbor’s house is on fire, you wet yours hoping it won’t burn.
We may have to pipe the whole drought stricken Islands with KUBULI water lol
Thank God, we in Dominica, are very, very fortunate to have water in abundance. We need to be more appreciative of our blessings and respect, enjoy and protect our rivers. Because, while other countries are having difficulty providing water to their consumers, we enjoy the freedom of having water to our advantage. One of the most important commodities, water is becoming less and less available in many countries, causing great concerns among government officials worldwide.
We realize that a lot of countries are currently looking towards Dominica to help supply their urgent need, but we have to be very careful, because over-committing our resources could leave us stranded. Although we boast 365 rivers, we need to remember that rivers do dry up from time to time, and droughts are eminent, so let us make wise, strategic decisions before committing our most precious, coveted, and God given resources, to other desperate countries.
DWASCO is now making statements about water shortage and rationing and water usage reduction to the people of DA. during the dry season.
So why did the govt. give a contract to Sisserou water to be able to extract at least a billion gallons of water a year for export?
I think that the govt. owes the people an explanation on this.
DWASCO needs to have reservoirs as back up. There should be no reason whatsoever, with the amount of rain and water on this island that there should ever be a shortage of water.
Water is a resource we have been sitting on since the beginning of time without effective economic exploitation thereof. It appears our moment has come – let’s put this to work for our people.
Dominica the Nature Island to the rescue.. Let us conserve the natural resources so that there may always be enough to help others and sustain the inhabitants of the island.
It seems like we have to send a river to st.lucia and jamaica…lol