BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE issue of water and the drought-like conditions affecting St. Kitts and Nevis is once again gaining the attention of the Cabinet, as the hot weather persists across the region.
Yesterday (Jun. 13), the topic once again arose at the Cabinet level and, according to a press statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, it was “discussed at length, measures that can be taken to alleviate some of the water issues being experienced in St. Kitts as a result of the ongoing dry spell”.
Though officials expect an above normal hurricane season, the Eastern Caribbean islands are facing dry temperatures now, and officials are hopeful of a change in the weather pattern. And Water Engineer, Cromwell Williams was invited to make a presentation to the Cabinet on how the Government could improve on the situation.
During his presentation, Williams recommended that St. Kitts and Nevis must seriously considers desalination along with the immediate drilling of more wells.
Desalination is the process by which salt and impurities are removed from water.
During his presentation at the recently held Cabinet Media briefing, Deputy Prime Minister Eugene Hamilton addressed the matter, especially for those in the Cayon area.
Hamilton told reporters that he had reviewed all the documents regarding water production in St. Kitts, and there was an urgent need to turn attention to desalination.
That comes as St. Kitts’ primary source of water - under - is currently insufficient to meet the growing demands.
“...we are at that point where in a few months, years, we will need two million gallons extra that we cannot obtain from our soil, from groundwater,” Hamilton revealed.
Much of the shortage of water is being linked to the changing climatic conditions, which many political leaders and scientists have indicated is no fault of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), but rather the developed nations where they continue to emit greenhouse gasses.
“So, as a responsive, Cabinet, we decided immediately to commence the contract to commence drilling in Cayon. Something that has been before us for some time,” disclosed Hamilton, who noted that the Cabinet Secretary had sent the necessary documentation for the respective ministries to begin work on getting the work up and running in the Cayon, Lodge and Ottleys areas.
During that briefing as well, Hamilton confirmed that the Government has taken up the offer from the United Arab Emirates to furnish a desalination plan in the Federation to assist with the water supply.
In the meantime, members of the public can help the water situation by engaging in good water conservation practices.
