Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jun 26, 2025

Former W&SD boss said she was starved of resources to fix water & sewerage woes

Former W&SD boss said she was starved of resources to fix water & sewerage woes

With former Director of Water and Sewerage Department (W&SD), Mrs Perline R. Scatliffe- Leonard stepping into the political arena as an Independent candidate for the Seventh District seat in the 2023 general election, the obvious question was how she plans to successfully run a District when she has been perceived by some as a “failure” in her leadership capacity as W&SD Director.

The question was posed by a reporter at a press conference on Thursday, February 9, 2023, to announce Mrs Scatliffe- Leonard's election bid.

In response, Scatliffe-Leonard, who said she is very passionate about the Virgin Islands and nation- building, blamed policymakers and a lack of resources for her inability to perform to expectations.

The territory has been plagued by water and sewerage woes before and during her tenure in office.

Lack of resources

“In order to build a house, you have to have resources to build that house. I would have loved for resources to have been provided to the Water and Sewerage Department, while I was Director, to solve the problems that exist in the field. I would have loved it…But, at the end of the day, the policymakers are the ones that decide what’s priority for them. And so, I fall in line…I do not want to cast blame on anyone in particular, but certainly, I’m not going to let my performance fall either”, Mrs Scatliffe- Leonard told reporters.

She went on to state that she has accomplished much in the W&SD and these accomplishments, she noted, will be made public.

Mrs Scatliffe- Leonard said it is important to understand that she wasn’t just sitting in the Department.

“The records are there with what I was trying to do, the recommendations I made”, she argued.

Former Director of Water and Sewerage Department (W&SD), Mrs Perline R. Scatliffe- Leonard is contesting the Seventh District as an Independent candidate in the 2023 elections.

How she will make a difference in District?

The former W&SD Director said the issues with sewerage and water are national budget-related and are the responsibility of all thirteen elected members, not only the District Representative.

She pointed out that the difference with her is that she knows what to do and she will push to have it done.

“Of course, a District Representative is going to push, once the push is there; and they will get a lot of push here because this representative knows what needs to be done”, she declared.

Mrs Scatliffe- Leonard continued by indicating that unlike her former role, as District Representative her approach will be more hands-on.

“She knows the plan. She knows what needs to be there to get it done. And so that energy will be there to get it done. It’s no need to go and ask engineers and administrators again about this. We need to get it done, it’s gonna be done”.

According to Scatliffe- Leonard, there are budgets specific to each District and the funds for various projects are separate.

Hence, she noted, when it comes to community projects the money is there and there will be no stopping her since she knows what to do.

What sets her apart from other candidates?

The former W&SD boss said she grew up in the Seventh District and as such her capabilities are well-known.

“When you set about to representing people, you have to be open, you have to be transparent, honest, integrity and you have to understand governance and accountability to the ‘t’…I stand on those principles, and, you know, everyone who is in contesting must deliver themselves accordingly. This is the District where I grew up. This is the District that raised me”, Mrs Scatliffe- Leonard noted.

She said while she will not seek to make a comparison with other candidates, she will leave it up to the District to analyse and make a decision after hearing the commentaries.
The territory continues to be plagued by water and sewerage woes. This has been happening before and during the tenure of Perline R. Scatliffe-Leonard as Director of Water and Sewerage Department.


'Let’s put the plans to work'

Mrs Scatliffe- Leonard explained nevertheless that she is focused on genuinely delivering herself to the community.

“That’s my strength and I am going to speak with them and see where they go. They have to make a decision, whether they want to continue or whether they want somebody who they know is gonna push for them”, she said.

Asked about one of the things she will be looking to execute once elected, the District candidate said there is much to be done.

“From my former position, I can tell you, the plans are there. Let’s put the plans to work…to put the plans to work we have to ensure that the resources are there”, she said.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
×