Saint Lucia’s tourism stakeholders joined government ministers on March 4 to chart a roadmap for tackling the country’s water crisis.
They agreed to hold a March 6 session to hammer out timelines and financing for priority fixes.
Wednesday’s meeting was convened at the invitation of Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, who also chaired the discussion. Present were Keithson Hermine Charles, Minister for Physical Development and Public Utilities; Wayne D. Girard, Minister for Economic Development; and John Paul Estephane, Minister in the Ministry of Tourism. Also in attendance were the chairman of the Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO), Trevor Louisy; the CEO of WASCO, Zilta George-Leslie; permanent secretaries from the ministries of tourism and public utilities; representatives of the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association (SLHTA); and private sector hotel and tourism service operators.
According to a release issued by the SLHTA, Pierre acknowledged Saint Lucia’s ageing water infrastructure and the need for urgent solutions, emphasising immediate, practical steps that can be implemented in the short term.
The SLHTA said sector stakeholders emerged from the meeting with clarity on areas requiring investment and on where public and private agencies can collaborate to accelerate outcomes. Private sector tourism representatives are now planning to draft and present an action plan with proposed solutions in the coming days.
On Friday, March 6, a working group will meet to craft implementation schedules and define financial and resource requirements for priority projects. These include works on the northern water pipeline, the barging of water as an emergency support measure, a framework of incentives to stimulate increased commercial and domestic water harvesting, and a structured engagement strategy with water truckers to build strategic relationships that improve reliability.
“We acknowledge the seriousness of the water supply disruptions and the strain this is placing on tourism businesses and on the household needs of our team members,” said Noorani M. Azeez, SLHTA CEO.
“But we are encouraged by the Prime Minister’s insistence on practical measures aimed at stabilising the situation. With climate change intensifying dry-season risks, sustainable adaptation measures – like water harvesting, efficiency upgrades, and stronger resilience planning – are now critical to our sustainability as a small island developing state so heavily dependent on tourism.”
I am tired of hearing the same song no tune etc etc,génération to and from the same verdict for both parties while boosting of tourisme, are you aware of the sufferings of st lucians or visiter which having a extremly tough times of getting a flight from Martinique to st lucia or one way or the other???
That is extremly a shame for an island, fill you all pochette on the ignorance of those who select you all, from politics brings politicians makes rich fools…
The government was so focused on how to stay in power and sadly they overlooked a number of key issues which has a negative impact on the country and sadly will continue affecting the island
I hate to say this – I left St. Lucia over 50 years ago and there was issues with obtaining water way back then. It is extremely hard to understand how this issue still remains unresolved even at this present time. –wow wow
It is quite disappointing to see that tourism experts are meeting to seek a solution to a problem that they have refused to address for decades….no billion dollar profit private entity should be “hogging” municipal water! In other words, hotels should manage their own water whether it be desalination, recycle, rainwater etc…but don’t prioristise leisure activities (tourism) over essential public use especially in vulnerable communities. That place for Vigie cove should not have a wasco connection.
Exactly Cabot, Alia, Sandals and this new Viji blasphemy also is a destruction of turtle nesting area as well. Every property with a pool residential to commercial should be put into a certain category for filling up and charged differently…..They all should be put behind residences and residential neighborhoods not the other way around! Smh
The people have suffered long enough with WASCO!!!! This song and dance is old and tired and unless something actually gets down with desilting and desalinization imperative and legally reinforcement this island will be completely without water even blue waters to fill bottles!!!SMH
Instead of new stages in parks we the people need desilting so we actually have water next year this time because we don’t now we did last yer or the year before or the year before and I can REPEAT MYSELF 20 times here……… WAKE UP and Prioritize water!….. what if we have. Cat4/ 5 ? Than what!!!….? Smh