Given the “Valuing Water” theme of this year’s World Water Day, the government has highlighted several plans to guarantee quality water access as well as adequate preservation of freshwater systems in Dominica. Minister of Public Works, Cassanni Laville, said maintaining a sustainable water sector is part of the government’s plan to make the country truly resilient.
Senator Laville said every country in the world must tackle the global water crisis and that Dominica will do everything possible to ensure access to portable water as well as preservation of freshwater bodies in the country. He said the DLP administration is working on several phases of strategic development in the water sector to achieve its overall objectives.
The first phase is a water project development and phase two upgrades to water systems in Roseau Valley, Calibishie, and the west and east coasts. Laville noted that DOWASCO will also be strengthened for improved service delivery to enable the agency to achieve its mandate. The minister said the government has invested $51 million to upgrade both Bagatelle and Morne Prosper water schemes, while a total of $90 million will be needed to develop the entire water sector in the country.
Meanwhile, attorney and environmentalist Bernard Wiltshire has revealed that the government must double its efforts to preserve natural water bodies in Dominica and also commercialize water projects in the country. He said acute water shortage is projected to hit two-thirds of the world’s population by 2025 and Dominica must position itself to market its water resources for economic gains.
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