Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

New bill for WSD doesn’t have much independence - Fraser

New bill for WSD doesn’t have much independence - Fraser

Opposition Leader Julian Fraser has argued that a proposed legislative amendment that will bring significant changes to the Water and Sewerage Department should mean more financial independence but does not reflect that.
Legislators were at the time debating the Water and Sewerage Act 2022 which seeks to transform the Department from a government department to a statutory body.

“I see nothing in this bill that speaks to its independence. What I see in this bill is much of the same. Because when they talk about financing… they go right back to source, the source being central government,” Fraser said.

“That department needs a full transformation,” Fraser added. “And it’s not going to happen by sending people there who are just going to say, ‘well, bring this file to me, let me take a look at this, interviewing Tom today, Mary later’, and expect things to change.”

Fraser complained about the organisation haemorrhaging some $20 million per year due to lost revenue and its lack of ability to collect outstanding revenues over the years.

“This board needs people who have experience in the problems that are faced with in the Water and Sewerage Department, sewerage issues that we’re having. We need people with experience in that field,” Fraser urged.

Fraser said he didn’t want someone from a different country on the new statutory board, but instead preferred someone “from right here” who knows what the problems are and why they’re not being fixed.

He also argued that he did not want to see the new board members get “buried in the culture” that already exists at the department.

In the meantime, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley called the new legislation ‘transformative’ and said it will dramatically improve the management of the delivery of potable water to residents of the BVI.

“It will create the framework that will allow for the utility of efficiency and effectiveness that is not possible under the current arrangement,” Premier Wheatley said.

He reminded persons that the department has faced consistent challenges over the past two decades including frequent breaks and leaks due to an ageing water distribution network, frequent blockages to the sewerage collection system and illegal lines going to private properties, among other things.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
×