REMARKS BY

 

 HON.

 BRADLEY B. ROBERTS, M.P.

 

MINISTER OF WORKS AND IMMIGRATION

 

AT THE COMMISSIONING OF

 

THE BLUE HILLS REVERSE OSMOSIS PLANT

 

3:30 P.M.

MARCH 8, 2007

NASSAU, BAHAMAS

 

Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie, Senator Marcus Bethel, and other Cabinet Colleagues, Members of Parliament, Senators, Government Officials, Pastor Perry Wallace, other Ministers of Religion, Chairman Donald Demeritte and Members of The Board of the Water and Sewerage Corporation, Senior Executive Managers of The Corporation, Managers and Employees of The Corporation, Management and Employees of Consolidated Water Company Ltd., Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen Boys and Girls, a very pleasant good afternoon to all.

 

I am particularly delighted to be here this afternoon to join all assembled at the commissioning of the largest Reverse Osmosis Plant in our Bahamaland, producing Six Million imperial gallons per day.  I have gone on record as saying that “Water is the quintessence of our very existence.  Whilst man has survived without electricity and telephone, man he has been unable to survive without water. In simple terms water and the air we breathe are the essence of life – they are the most important commodities in the world”

 

Prime Minister, as you are aware, I have been driving this point home from our days in Opposition, and throughout my tenure as Minister with responsibilities for Utilities and specifically the Water and Sewerage Corporation.

 

I have bemoaned the fact that whilst water is so very precious, many of our residents cannot enjoy a drink of this so very vital commodity, or take a bath in the comfort of their own homes.

 

On coming to office, I looked at the plans left behind by our predecessor and was shocked.  Shocked at the lack of planning for developing the Water and Sewerage Corporation and servicing the vital needs of the Bahamian people.

 

Prime Minister, as you often proclaim - GOD is good, as he saw fit to place this productive and caring PLP Government, under your able leadership, in charge of this country’s affairs - to bring long overdue potable water relief to so many of our people.  Not only here in New Providence but also in many of our Family Islands.

 

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, water for the Bahamas and the Bahamian People, in my view, is a National Security Issue of the Highest Order!!  Resolving our water issues is of paramount concern to this Government and I submit that this should have been the same position the former administration should have embraced.

 

This compassionate Government recognizes that the provision of safe (and affordable) drinking water and the disposable and treatment of wastewater have to be integrated into our National Security, as they impact the health of residents and visitors alike. 

 

My preliminary review of the state of Water and Sewerage revealed many shocking findings.   For example, we discovered water mains in Central and North Eleuthera, installed during the 1950s and 1960s, but never replaced, despite the former administration receiving funding from the Caribbean Development Bank – to do just that.  The Water and Sewerage Corporation is now correcting that scandalous oversight.  We found instances of pipes being laid – years in advance - with no water to run through them, resulting in the pipe connections becoming dry-rot.  Ask the good residents of Inagua and Long Island.

 

Yes thanks to the caring and visionary leadership of Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie, our review uncovered these things.  It gets even better – noting our findings around the island and getting an insight into the short-sightedness of our predecessors, specifically on the commodity most critical to life, we also did a review of the Coopers Town Abaco water system.  Can you imagine no piped water service to many persons in that community, despite the fact that a water main line ran right by their homes?  Well built modern structures with no water supply.  Ladies and Gentlemen, imagine persons having to tote water to their homes – in Abaco, one of our only three islands with an abundance of fresh water supplies.

 

       I am pleased to report that in every instance, where we reviewed and discovered deficiencies, we have corrected or are in the process of correcting.  To date, I can boast of capital expenditures of $11 + million in the Family Islands, during the past 12 months.  The Corporation publishes a scorecard every month to show the public – in a transparent fashion – what this government is doing with water and your Corporation – in the Family Islands.

 

I would like to draw your attention to the island of New Providence, where approximately one quarter million residents, or more than 70% of the total Bahamian population, live and where we have suffered for decades from an inadequate potable water supply. 

 

Under the Christie Administration’s watch, the Water and Sewerage Corporation proactively developed a 10 year Corporate Business Plan for The Bahamas in 2003.  This strategy or ‘Road Map’ sought to proactively address these issues and focus on the elimination of poor quality sources, on New Providence and other islands, and the often unreliable barging of water from Andros.

 

After discovering the depths of the plight of our people and lack of attention paid to this national security issue, by our predecessors, and being challenged by our Prime Minister to become more innovative in getting quality water supplies throughout the Bahamas, in short order, we develop a new National Water and Wastewater Strategy framework in 2005. 

 

Simply put our mandate is to deliver quality water and sewerage services to every Bahamian resident on a fast-track basis and we will use every prudent means possible to do so.

 

Details on Blue Hills RO Plant

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, procurement for this Blue Hills RO facility commenced in early 2004 and was awarded in Feb 2005. The competition for the project was global with bidders from Europe, Middle East, Caribbean, and America submitting proposals. Following extended evaluation and consideration, the project was awarded to Consolidated Water Company, of the Cayman Islands, and Waterfields Company, its Bahamian subsidiary.  This contract also included the guaranteed reduction of Non-Revenue water by 1 million imperial gallons per day, with the intention of reducing non-revenue water from 50% to approximately 40%.

 

Today, we are pleased to be able to pause and highlight to the Bahamian people that we have accomplished our goal for the first phase of improving the New Providence water supply – and have done so in the allotted time.  Water has been flowing from this facility from late summer and has already made a big difference to our overall production, quality and quantity. We note that Consolidated Water has completed a state-of-the-art plant that is already producing 5 - 6 million imperial gallons of water per day at World Health Organization quality standards, bringing our total daily water supply to 9.8 million imperial gallons per day and increasing our total production capacity to approximately 12 million imperial gallons per day.   

 

This purpose built plant, which is the result of a Public Private Partnership, with a Bahamian component, is currently the largest plant in The Bahamas and has the ability to maintain 100% production even in the event of power failures. The structures are also capable of withstanding winds of up to 150mph.  I must add that I believe that this plant is the largest one in Consolidated’s portfolio.

 

I would like to draw your attention to the innovative state of the art extended tower that you see on top of Blue Hills.  That is the corresponding water tank for this plant.  That tank will replace the old water tanks that have been causing problems for neighbouring homes for years.  It will not only replace those tanks but will substantively increase the pressure flow throughout New Providence.  The tank is essentially completed but is awaiting the final inspection before it is painted and commissioned.

 

As I have stated earlier and as mentioned by Chairman Demeritte, the cornerstone of our National Water and Wastewater strategy is our insistence that the Corporation will have the right to supply water and sewerage services to all major developments and properties.  This speaks to an abundance of opportunities for the Corporation and Bahamians who have the wherewithal and desire to invest. Most certainly the $50 million bond offer that the Corporation is planning for this year is a step in this direction.  We are also seeking to do a local placement in Long Island, to accelerate their infrastructural development and hope to replicate that in similar situations.

 

  By using this very effective strategy to further our goals for water & sewerage systems in The Bahamas, we expect to accomplish the construction of three more reverse osmosis plants in New Providence to service the northern, southwestern and eastern areas of this island.  We also intend to introduce a portfolio of state-of-the-art wastewater facilities, to The Bahamas, beginning with New Providence, and are at the design stage for a new tertiary treatment plant for the Gladstone Road area.  This plant will service Flamingo Gardens, Jubilee Gardens, South Westridge, Cable Beach, Baha Mar, and future neighbouring subdivisions.  

 

We currently have works underway on New Providence, and contracts for main improvement and expansion works, that are about to be signed, totaling some $12 million and it doesn’t stop there.  Water delivery is too critical a service not to address aggressively, after all we are a well known tourist destination.

 

It is important to note here that as the Corporation proactively and aggressively seeks to increase its market share, it will be in the best interest of everybody to support them, as increased volume will result in better service.   The Corporation presently serves an estimated 30% of residents and hotels in New Providence – it is critical that this changes, if we are to protect our meager groundwater supplies and manage our water resources as we are mandated to do so.  As a country we cannot continue to allow our residents to have unfettered access to unsafe and potentially polluted private wells, as our research indicates.

 

In this vein, I invite all persons who are currently using private wells to reconnect to the Corporation’s supply.  The Corporation has a safe and high quality supply of water and is ready, willing and able to serve you. 

 

 We recently had the pleasure of commissioning new transmission mains in Rolleville, Exuma and United Estates San Salvador.  In Eleuthera mains are being replaced in Lower Bogue, James Cistern, North and South Palmetto Point, Savannah Sound and Bannerman Town along with the construction of a new storage tanks at the Bogue Well field and Tarpum Bay.  In Abaco, works include a new mains and distribution system for Cherokee Sound, the extension of mains in Cooper’s Town – which I mentioned earlier, a new storage tank in Sandy Point and a reverse osmosis plant for Green Turtle Cay. In Central Andros - mains will be extended and replaced to Stafford Creek and Behring Point, while new storage tanks are coming online for the Bluff, South Andros and the Mangrove Cay well field.  And there is more.

 

The Corporation is close to signing contracts for new water systems and reverse osmosis plants at Salina Point and Snug Corner, Acklins as well as a new water system and Reverse Osmosis Plant for Long Cay. The Long Cay plant is actually on its way. Also, in Sweeting’s Cay, Grand Bahama, works are expected to commence within a week, and a plant in Williams Town.  A RO Plant is also being planned for South Andros, Kemps Bay and Mars Bay, and Cat Island, the first to be located in the central part of the island.

                                                              

The Government and the Water and Sewerage Corporation together are working at an accelerated pace to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to support the development of The Bahamas and the advancement of our people - in every island. These are truly exciting times for The Bahamas and the water business generally.

 

Finally, I must say that much has been said about this government not using young and new talent to help its program.  I am proud to say that this Prime Minister and Minister were able to identify and utilize the talents of a young Bahamian to help develop and execute the strategy I have just outlined.  Chairman Demeritte was appointed to head the Corporation’s Board of Directors in January 2005 and despite several obstacles and detractors, I am pleased to say that, with the strong support of his Board, they have significantly enhanced and strengthened the Corporation.

 

I am very proud and pleased to be able to stand here confidently today and categorically state that under the watch of Perry Christie’s government, the Water and Sewerage Corporation has been given a level of support that is unprecedented in its history.  Thanks to the commitment of the Board, the Executive Team, the staff and the overall renewed energy of the Corporation, we are now charting new territories and the Corporation is taking its rightful place in our national development.

 

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that we possess what is needed to accomplish this most necessary and multi-faceted task. The Corporation now looks with renewed interest to ‘trail blaze’ in the southwest, with an innovative combined water-wastewater project and will seek to replicate that model wherever possible.  We have the expertise, the commitment, and the endurance to accomplish what we have set out to do and we are running with vision and purpose toward our ultimate aim of providing quality, potable water to every citizen in this nation.

 

With God’s help and the cooperation and partnership of you, the Bahamian people, there is nothing this caring Government cannot and will not do to uplift the quality of life for our Bahamian people.

 

Ladies and gentlemen I can outline many more accomplishments and plans that have been achieved by the Corporation but time doesn’t permit but I can say – without fear of contradiction – “SO SAID SO DONE”!!

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to thank my colleague, Senator Dr. Marcus Bethel, for affording me the opportunity to speak at this ceremony and officially transfer the responsibility of the Water and Sewerage Corporation to his capable leadership.  It is now my profound pleasure to invite Senator Dr, Marcus Bethel, Minister of Utilities & the Environment to introduce the People’s Champion, our visionary and caring leader, the Prime Minister of our country – the Rt. Hon. Perry G Christie.

 

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!