100 signatures reached
To: Virgin Islands House of Assembly
Virgin Gorda Water Woes
Discussion with Virgin Gorda Community to work towards finding solutions for our water woes.
Why is this important?
It’s important that Virgin Gorda has a consistent supply of water.
The business stakeholders and residents of Virgin Gorda in an effort to express our desire for a resolution of our water woes present to you the attached signatures which requests an audience to discuss and come up with solutions for the challenges we continue to face on Virgin Gorda.
We have collectively opted to present you with a petition in the hopes that this would accurately express the urgency in which we are requesting your attention. We understand that the road to success during these times is a long and difficult journey. However, we believe that government has a responsibility to be honest with its citizens and residents.
Access to water and sanitation are recognized by the United Nations as human rights – fundamental to everyone's health, dignity and prosperity. ‘International human rights law obliges States to work towards achieving universal access to water and sanitation for all, without any discrimination, while prioritizing those most in need. In guiding the implementation by States, key elements of the rights to water and sanitation are elaborated by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in its General Comment No. 15 and in the work of the Special Rapporteur on human right to safe drinking water:
• Availability: The water supply for each person must be sufficient and continuous to cover personal and domestic uses, which comprise water for drinking, washing clothes, food preparation and personal and household hygiene. There must be a sufficient number of sanitation facilities within or in the immediate vicinity of each household, and all health or educational institutions, workplaces and other public places to ensure that all the needs of each person are met.
• Accessibility: Water and sanitation facilities must be physically accessible and within safe reach for all sections of the population, taking into account the needs of particular groups, including persons with disabilities, women, children and older persons.
• Affordability: Water services must be affordable to all. No individual or group should be denied access to safe drinking water because they cannot afford to pay. •
Quality and safety: Water for personal and domestic use must be safe and free from micro-organisms, chemical substances and radiological hazards that constitute a threat to a person’s health. Sanitation facilities must be hygienically safe to use and prevent human, animal and insect contact with human excreta.
• Acceptability: All water and sanitation facilities must be culturally acceptable and appropriate, and sensitive to gender, life-cycle and privacy requirements. (United Nations Human Rights Office of the Commissioner)’
The Spanish Town Community of Virgin Gorda continues to be plagued by water challenges which include but not limited to the following
1. Foul smelling water allegedly caused by sargassum
2. Lack of a reliable supply of government supplied water
3. Eroding water distribution system
4. Water capacity challenges
5. Aging and inefficient pant infrastructure
6. Staff shortages in the Water and Sewerage Department
The situation has reached emergency stages in the last two weeks. On a regular basis we are told that the reservoir levels are low hence water supply has to be rationed . Up to a few weeks ago water was rationed with no water pumped in Spanish Town at nights from 9pm to 5am. Of late water is not pumped 12noon to 4pm and then again 9pm to 5am. We are very concerned that September is one of the periods of lowest water demand due off-peak tourism season and yet there appears to be low water levels. The lack of water creates unhygienic situations that concerns our community especially now that schools are back in session. We are seeing an increase in COVID cases worldwide with BVI not being an exception.
Some of our businesses depend on water. As a tourism destination this is also not a good posture in the international space where our guests travel from. Any publicity on water challenges can create a negative image that can impact our livelihoods. We are even more concerned in the lack of information and communication from The Ministry of Communication and Works, The District Representative, The Water and Sewerage Department as well as Aqua Designs the operator of the water plant. We the signatories on this petition ask the authorities to 1. Advise the nature of the challenge with water production and distribution 2. Advise a timeline to rectify the challenges 3. Install a backup power generating supply to ensure water production even when BVIEC cannot provide electrical power
We look forward to dialogue with all concerned as water is a basic human right as mandated by The United Nations. We are asking that a meeting be chaired with the community where the following parties are present. thaWe are further asking for this meeting to be held no later October 6, 2023.
-All members of House of Assembly
-Aqua Designs Lead Management Team both for Virgin Gorda and the region
-Acting Director Water and Sewerage
-Permanent Secretary Ministry of Communications and Works
-Permanent Secretary Natural Resources
We anticipate a discussion surrounding the petition and the steps you intend to take to partner with us the residents of Virgin Gorda. In this regards, please feel free to contact Sharon Flax Brutus, Chair VGROC, the designated point of contact for our Virgin Gorda Community via email at [email protected] or 2844416717
The business stakeholders and residents of Virgin Gorda in an effort to express our desire for a resolution of our water woes present to you the attached signatures which requests an audience to discuss and come up with solutions for the challenges we continue to face on Virgin Gorda.
We have collectively opted to present you with a petition in the hopes that this would accurately express the urgency in which we are requesting your attention. We understand that the road to success during these times is a long and difficult journey. However, we believe that government has a responsibility to be honest with its citizens and residents.
Access to water and sanitation are recognized by the United Nations as human rights – fundamental to everyone's health, dignity and prosperity. ‘International human rights law obliges States to work towards achieving universal access to water and sanitation for all, without any discrimination, while prioritizing those most in need. In guiding the implementation by States, key elements of the rights to water and sanitation are elaborated by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in its General Comment No. 15 and in the work of the Special Rapporteur on human right to safe drinking water:
• Availability: The water supply for each person must be sufficient and continuous to cover personal and domestic uses, which comprise water for drinking, washing clothes, food preparation and personal and household hygiene. There must be a sufficient number of sanitation facilities within or in the immediate vicinity of each household, and all health or educational institutions, workplaces and other public places to ensure that all the needs of each person are met.
• Accessibility: Water and sanitation facilities must be physically accessible and within safe reach for all sections of the population, taking into account the needs of particular groups, including persons with disabilities, women, children and older persons.
• Affordability: Water services must be affordable to all. No individual or group should be denied access to safe drinking water because they cannot afford to pay. •
Quality and safety: Water for personal and domestic use must be safe and free from micro-organisms, chemical substances and radiological hazards that constitute a threat to a person’s health. Sanitation facilities must be hygienically safe to use and prevent human, animal and insect contact with human excreta.
• Acceptability: All water and sanitation facilities must be culturally acceptable and appropriate, and sensitive to gender, life-cycle and privacy requirements. (United Nations Human Rights Office of the Commissioner)’
The Spanish Town Community of Virgin Gorda continues to be plagued by water challenges which include but not limited to the following
1. Foul smelling water allegedly caused by sargassum
2. Lack of a reliable supply of government supplied water
3. Eroding water distribution system
4. Water capacity challenges
5. Aging and inefficient pant infrastructure
6. Staff shortages in the Water and Sewerage Department
The situation has reached emergency stages in the last two weeks. On a regular basis we are told that the reservoir levels are low hence water supply has to be rationed . Up to a few weeks ago water was rationed with no water pumped in Spanish Town at nights from 9pm to 5am. Of late water is not pumped 12noon to 4pm and then again 9pm to 5am. We are very concerned that September is one of the periods of lowest water demand due off-peak tourism season and yet there appears to be low water levels. The lack of water creates unhygienic situations that concerns our community especially now that schools are back in session. We are seeing an increase in COVID cases worldwide with BVI not being an exception.
Some of our businesses depend on water. As a tourism destination this is also not a good posture in the international space where our guests travel from. Any publicity on water challenges can create a negative image that can impact our livelihoods. We are even more concerned in the lack of information and communication from The Ministry of Communication and Works, The District Representative, The Water and Sewerage Department as well as Aqua Designs the operator of the water plant. We the signatories on this petition ask the authorities to 1. Advise the nature of the challenge with water production and distribution 2. Advise a timeline to rectify the challenges 3. Install a backup power generating supply to ensure water production even when BVIEC cannot provide electrical power
We look forward to dialogue with all concerned as water is a basic human right as mandated by The United Nations. We are asking that a meeting be chaired with the community where the following parties are present. thaWe are further asking for this meeting to be held no later October 6, 2023.
-All members of House of Assembly
-Aqua Designs Lead Management Team both for Virgin Gorda and the region
-Acting Director Water and Sewerage
-Permanent Secretary Ministry of Communications and Works
-Permanent Secretary Natural Resources
We anticipate a discussion surrounding the petition and the steps you intend to take to partner with us the residents of Virgin Gorda. In this regards, please feel free to contact Sharon Flax Brutus, Chair VGROC, the designated point of contact for our Virgin Gorda Community via email at [email protected] or 2844416717