EDITORIAL: Relief on the horizon?

Our island paradise has over the last few months had to grapple with the challenges being posed by a failing sewage treatment system on the South Coast, and too often it seemed as though the problems would never be rectified. We are therefore hopeful that reports earlier this week that a resolution, though temporary, is closer to being implemented are true, and that it does in fact allow the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) to identify the problem and fix it once and for all.

Earlier this month, Minister responsible for the BWA Dr. David Estwick, announced that it was decided that deep injection wells would be dug to divert the treated sewage to, so that they could determine the exact nature of the breaches in the system and repair them. He had also stated that steps were being taken to fix the 10-inch pump which had broken down and was causing sewage to leak into the streets, and that they had acquired another 10-inch pump, which was to be on island by last week. We are indeed pleased to hear that all these things are seemingly coming to fruition, as the pump is said to have arrived, and the digging of the injection wells is nearing completion.

Certainly, we hope this means that persons can expect to get some relief soon and that the South Coast can return to some sense of normalcy. No one can deny that the situation has gone on too long, but we also appreciate that much hard work and finances have gone into trying to identify and resolve the problems and think that the BWA should be commended for its efforts. Over the last few months that Government entity has been on the receiving end of much criticism, with everyone being an expert, saying how it should be handled. But the fact is none of us, looking in from the outside, could possibly understand the challenges they have faced, especially with an entire country and to some extent the outside world, breathing down its neck.

Now it would be irresponsible of us to deny that the country has experienced some fallout from the sewage crisis. We have seen three countries issue travel advisories and one of those countries also issued an advisory about our drinking water. Though the authorities have assured Barbadians and visitors alike that there is no risk posed to them and that our DRINKING WATER IS SAFE, so called bad news always travels faster than good news. We therefore still have some work to do to ensure that the good news is put front and centre.

While we are not the only country to suffer from sewage problems, there should be no solace taken in that, for we have a reputation to uphold as it relates to our main economic earner - tourism. Yes we have done a relatively good job thus far reassuring visitors, but we do agree with the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association’s call for a senior government official to be put in charge of dealing with the day-to-day management of the issue. That person need not be a minister of government, for we do not want this to become any more political than it already has.

We also go a step farther, suggesting that in addition to the various government ministries and departments said to be meeting weekly to discuss the matter, representatives of the private sector and residents should be brought on board. This would allow for open dialogue and for the whole country to feel as part of the process to rectify the matter and to work together to uphold our country’s image and good name.