![\"\"](\"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/commentary2.jpg\" "\\"commentary\\"")
In his brief remarks on Wednesday November 30th whilst speaking at a DOWASCO organized press conference to apprise the general public of developments in the water sector, the Hon. Minister for Water Resources Management joggled my memory. The Minister spoke about the many challenges faced by successive governments to capitalize on the latent foreign exchange potential which abounds here given the abundance of our water resources.<\/p>\n
Indeed many voices genuine and otherwise have been raised to that effect. Many an attempt has been made to secure for Dominica a source of much needed revenue. More often than not such efforts usually fail to go beyond the conception stage. The records will show that many brief-case bearing \u201cinvestors\u201d and more recently “ipad\u201d users have canvassed the then offices of the National Development Co-operation and now the Invest Dominica Authority with \u201chold your breath\u201d plans and proposals to export water from Dominica.<\/p>\n
In a very recent case, a foreign company sought to woo Dominica into granting a license for exploring the vast, yet still untapped supplies of underground water. Each time the various entities have succeeded in securing for themselves very attractive incentive packages such as exclusive rights to exploring the freshwater water resources of the state. Such exclusivity almost always includes the right to approve or disapprove other future investments in the freshwater industry here. Sadly so the investments have never materialized. This failed investment landscape for Dominica in this regard is a sorry sight to behold. By and large our rivers continue to flow uninterrupted. Did I speak too soon.<\/p>\n
Here comes \u201cMr. know it all\u201d.\u00a0 The only one with the answer and panacea for every economic and development related challenge. He speaks with authority on every conceivable subject matter particularly if that issue has to do with government\u2019s ability or inability to deliver on its macro-economic and socio-economic agenda. Talk of agriculture, he has the answer to increasing production, the locations of markets waiting for Dominica\u2019s agriculture products, even within the setting of World Trade Organization (WTO) realities.<\/p>\n
But as Minster with responsibility for the sector on two separate and distinct occasions, he can show precious little for his knowledge and skills.\u00a0 Talk of conservation, that too is his strength \u2013 he lives, eats and breathes conservation. A hundred thousand Dollars (US) for his stance on the great mammals which lives in the oceans however quickly fades into oblivion.<\/p>\n
Talk of the Tourism Industry, he does not like the cruise tourist, but when they do not come mostly as a result of the world\u2019s financial situation he knows it is Roosevelt Skerrit\u2019s ill advised tourism policy. He has information about how to increase the arrivals into Dominica by the thousands per day. But an international airport ought not to be part of the equation. Remember the endless talk of how the lobster suffered during the construction phase of the facility which presently allows for aircraft landing into Dominica after sunset?<\/p>\n
Talk of politics \u2013 local politics, and he speaks good governance, transparency, people\u2019s parliament and \u201ctruth to power\u201d as his daily mantra. He has all the strategies for governance in a small underdeveloped poor country. Talk of music and culture. The truth is he has really distinguished himself head shoulders above many others in creating sweet musical rhythms from tin. He is a sensation to behold for sure, a pan maestro on jouvert mornings. There is no doubting that. Yes there are few disciplines in life he cannot speak intelligently and emotionally about. Even when he cries in the media as he often does, you cannot fail to see how pretty his tears are.\u00a0 \u201cPlayway Gwo Nhom Led\u201d. Talk of the media, well that is a good place to talk. His indomitable spirit in creating for himself those niches of authority on every subject matter carries him (his persona) well.<\/p>\n
He has also demonstrated great interest in bulk water export. He had a plan. A firm plan. All the market studies were completed. A study that he commissioned declared that the project was environmentally, economically and socially feasible. His only problem was an inept government that knows precious little about developing a country. As a matter of fact he could be father to the head of government.<\/p>\n
So in 2009, government in its unwavering attempt to maximize on the revenue generating potential that is in our rivers granted him (a national) an absolute, nearly unfettered license to undertake a project that would export water from one of Dominica\u2019s largest rivers. At the signing ceremony he lamented that because the license was late in coming there were certain financial challenges given the world\u2019s financial crisis. According to him his investors for the project were cutting back. He was nevertheless confident that with the contacts he had lined out in the investment world, the project would be back on stream in short time to deliver on its promise of jobs for the unemployed (both on land and on sea) and significant foreign exchange earnings to the state\u2019s treasury.<\/p>\n
Two years on (not three Hon. Minister) we are yet to experience the earth shattering experience that the investment promises. Rather, we have been on the receiving end of excuses after excuses, reasons after reasons and total verbal diarrhea one might add for the non-delivery of the project. Where is the investment Sir? You have all the answers to every development problem\/issue\/challenge in Dominica. But like many other initiatives of yours, cannot deliver on what is really a simple project, given all the contacts, knowledge and expertise at your fingertips. Hon. Minister for Water Resources, I think it is time to call the bluff of this \u201cevery subject matter specialist\u201d. This bulk water project is not going anywhere, anytime soon. So much for being right on cue.<\/p>\n
Opinions expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Dominica News Online.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In his brief remarks on Wednesday November 30th whilst speaking at a DOWASCO organized press conference to apprise the general public of developments in the water sector, the Hon. Minister for Water Resources Management joggled my memory. The Minister spoke…","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n