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Contact:
Chris Satney
Thursday, February 3, 2005 - A Bill seeking to reconcile a number of key
elements in the supply and use of water on the island was passed on Tuesday,
February 1 in the first sitting of the House of Assembly for 2005.
The Bill came on the heels of the Prime Minister’s New Year’s Address in which
he cited water as a major priority for his Government in 2005.
The Water and Sewage Bill, which replaces the Water and Sewage Act of 1999, came
after a long and comprehensive process of national consultation, during which a
national water policy was formulated. The bill looked at issues of quality of
service and the protection and management of the resource base, attracting
private sector investment.
Addressing the Speaker of the House, Minister for Public Utilities, Hon Felix
Finisterre said, “It looks to, of course, give certain regulatory certainty so
that the persons, who invest their money could be ensured of a fair return on
their investment. Also, it looks at protecting the right and the needs of the
socially vulnerable and poorest of our society; so no one is going to be left
behind.”
The Bill also gives the State rights to rivers and ravines, thereby protecting
the resource from harmful agents. It also makes provisions for the establishment
of a Water Resource Management Agency to be located within the Ministry of
Agriculture. The Agency would advise the Ministry on several issues including
the consideration of application licences and permits for use of water in water
controlled areas.
“The water resources management Agency is expected to assume and continue to
perform the functions of the Water Resources Unit, among others, whose
activities were funded by the European Union, under the Stabex Funds and the
Government of St. Lucia. This project will eventually close on the 31st of March
2005”, the Minister informed.
The Bill was facilitated and directed under the terms of the 5th Water Reform
Project, initiated by Government, and funded by the World Bank and the Caribbean
Development Bank.
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