Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre and tourism stakeholders during a March 4 meeting on Saint Lucia’s water shortage.
CASTRIES--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.” ~St Lucia Times~
