( Real News Antigua ) As residents continue to complain about the shortage of potable water, the minister with responsibility for the Antigua Public
Utilities Authority (APUA) is claiming that over 12 million gallons
are being provided every day.
Commencing March 1, businesses were billed for water at a higher
rate, as decided by the Cabinet several weeks ago, while a hike in
household service is expected at a later date.
However, the Administration has claimed that rates will not increase
until households are provided with the commodity on a daily basis,
24 hours a day.
Now, the minister for APUA – Melford Nicholas – has confirmed that
seven million gallons are being provided through the Reverse
Osmosis (RO) plants and the balance of five million from the water
accumulated in the dams, reservoirs, and aquifers.
Given these numbers, it is expected that the Authority would be able
to provide a regular schedule of water to all communities.
However, what the minister is claiming does not appear to match up
with what the public is actually receiving, according to the response
of residents.
On Thursday, March 7, one Swetes resident declared that the village
has not had water for the past three days.
Another person also challenges Nicholas’ claim, asking where,
exactly, that water is distributed. The resident doubts the volume of
water said to be produced daily, since most villages across the island
receive water only for two days each week and for a few hours.
Further, she complains that the short period in which the water is
on does not afford most households sufficient time to do laundry,
wash dishes, or enjoy a proper shower.
The response of yet another resident is that water has not run at
their home with any significant pressure in a month.
Rather, the water trickles through the pipes at such a slow pace that
it literally takes hours just to fill one bucket, this person says.
The frustrated resident is asking the Browne Administration who it
thinks it is fooling.
When it was thought that no one could top the incompetence of Sir
Robin Yearwood as the worst public utilities minister ever, Melford
Nicholas has done it, she declares.
According to another resident, APUA must be “flushing holes to evict
crabs,” because residents are not getting what the Authority is
claiming in his area, and he describes these government officials as
notorious for their hilarious lies.
Others complain that only air and dust are being emitted by their
pipes and turning the water meter.
In short, the consensus is that bathing with a bucket and having “a
houseful of Oasis water bottles” is the way of life now under Prime
Minister Gaston Browne and Minister Nicholas.
