The Belles to Penrice new water system has been officially commissioned under the Ministry of Water Resource Management, making fresh pipe-borne water accessible to residents of Sylvania, Despor, and Corona.
The project was undertaken at a cost of EC$7.5-million dollars borne by the government of Dominica.
Minister for Water Resource Management, Reginald Austrie, stated at the commissioning ceremony on Friday April 28, 2017, that this water project serves not only for domestic use, but also helps to address the “even more critical” need for potable water.
“You follow the stories all over the world, especially in Africa, in South Sudan in Particular, where millions are dying because of the non-availability of water. Not just potable water, but water in general. Starvation, famine, and all other water-borne diseases because of lack of water. So it is even more critical that if we need to maintain the pristine [state] of this environment, and our health itself, is dependent on water,” he said.
Austrie urged the users of this new water system to strive to assist in maintaining the water system and not waste water as the government is spending large amounts of money in providing this system as part of its goal of having 99.9% access to pipe-borne potable water all over Dominica.
He said the government sees the significant cost of these projects as an investment in the people and so they must be grateful for it.
“You have to be grateful. Not to me, not to Roosevelt Skerrit, but to God. Let us be grateful to God for giving us the resources, making the resources available that we can provide such a simple, basic but expensive commodity on which our survival hinges,” he remarked.
Austirie revealed that in light of the partnership between the government of Dominica and DOWASCO, the residents of these areas will receive free water connections and free water access for three months, to help them make the transition from not paying, to paying, for water.
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Roosevelt Skerrit, who also gave an address at the function, was of the opinion that the investments made in the water supply for areas such as Sylvania, Despor and Corona should not be seen as a “hard economic investment” because, according to him, access to drinkable, potable water should be the right of every individual.
“We must not look at water purely from how much profit we can make from the investment. The monies we have invested here will take us a lifetime to make the money back based on how much you are paying, because not only is this a major capital investment but there is a significant sum to maintain the water supply. So let us not look at it and treat it as if it is nothing, it is a major achievement for us here in this part of the country,” he said.
He too, encouraged the villagers and Dominicans by extension, to use the water wisely and not abuse it.
“We have to use the water wisely. If when there is no water, we can bathe with the little, why should we have the taps running when we are soaping ourselves? If we can brush our teeth with a little bit of water, why should we have the tap running while brushing our teeth?” he said.
Skerrit said that regardless of this tendency, the goal of having water available to all Dominicans and for the economic and social status of the country still remain a priority for the continued development of the country.
“You must have an appreciation for where you want to take your country, how are you going to take country there, and what are the resources you need to mobilize to allow you to effect those lofty goals for the country,” he remarked.
Good job…Now it’s Castle Bruce stretch turn. That place has never had water and people have their homes and farms there. The minister of agriculture needs to do something if he want the people of his village to have a good harvest of their crops and also for the people living there to have water to do their daily work.
Great news. In other islands and countries people are scrunting for fresh water, but we have in abundance here, it was just difficult to bring to certain villages. Soon we will boast that every nook and cranny in Dominica has clean and accessible water, all thanks to this enterprising, productive group of men and women serving as the government. There are 946 million people in the world without the ‘luxury’ of clean water and sanitation facilities. In Dominica we have effective water resources and sanitation management, and the government is really pushing to achieve the sustainable development goal 6 before 2030.
Rubbish. Water flows in every village, even in Salisbury. In 2017, we are only now boasting that they WILL (in the future) get pipe borne water? In one of the water catchment areas (Sylvania). shame. CBS and Rijock put a fire in all you bottom, all of a sudden things moving? Elections coming up again votes to solidify. and the poor fools who accept the handouts will remain begging.
I echo your comment!
Access to clean, potable water is a basic need indeed. So all thanks to God for positioning a hard-working PM and government so that they can continue with 21st century development. We are a small country, but we have many things that the bigger territories only dream of. This land is blessed, how many places in the world you can sit in a river and drink fresh water?
We thank the Lord for his mercies
why should we have the taps running while soaping ourselves ?
Lesson #1 learn to bathe .
why should we have the tap running while brushing our teeth ?
Lesson #2 learn to brush your teeth properly ?
Dow use our damn water even if is your hard earned cash dat paying Dawasco .
if you like to feel water running on your back go and bathe in de Roseau river under de bridge , you dont have to pay for that one ; but hose running in big man garden ,minister yard all green , water running all de time ,
when de tourist in de hotel we will watch dem on our camera monitoring how much water they using to bathe , and we will tell them thats not how to bathe .
Dominicans too like to waste water .
Congratulations are in order!
“We have to use the water wisely.” The way for that to happen is for clean water to have a price. Leaving the tap on, or leaving the car running, we won’t debate what is a “waste” if the waster alone pays the cost. If water (or health care or an apartment) is a “human right,” then overuse of that right is certain and the only weapon is a scolding from a Prime Minister. The shameless will ignore him, though even shameless people do pay their water bills.
Correction Dowasco and excuse
Austrie and Skeritt why don’t you give the same water supply to my family and the people in Marigot. Austrie you say the people must thank God. Explain how you can use God name when all are not treated the same. Just in case you don’t know The people at Rosehill have to get up in the wee hours to collect water. I have made numerous calls to Dowadco in Porthmouth and the ezcusr is it was damaged after Erica. Put aside money and fix the damn water system . Enough is enough.
Isn’t your buoy Linton the Parl rep for Marigot lol lol lol
Hurrah. Thank you very much from the residents of Sylvania.
Congratulations to our Brothers and Sisters of Sylvania, Despor and Corona, And by extension All from Belles to Penrice. DOWASCO has adopted the Springfield River. You too can join the Adopt-A-River programme to build awareness concerning our local watershed issues and to facilitate the participation of public and private sector entities in sustainable and holistic projects aimed at improving the status of rivers and watershed. And thereby reaching the 99% access of water which is the goal of the Government of Dominica
Kudos to the Gov’t on this achievement.
Alas PM….Give the village of Salisbury (BAWI) something nuh with the CBI monies…..after all Salisbury is part of Dominica…..it’s on the Map….a village between (Mero & Coulibistrie)