Government will be tackling the challenges being experienced at the South Coast Sewage Plant, taking steps to prevent a similar scenario occurring at its Bridgetown counterpart and putting an end to the dreaded tipping fee for solid waste disposal.
In the Throne Speech delivered yesterday in the Upper Chamber of Parliament, Dame Sandra Mason, the Governor General of Barbados, disclosed those plans as she referred to the “catastrophic failure” of the South Coast Sewage Plant. That failure, she said, poses a significant threat to the health of locals and visitors alike, to the environment and nearshore ecosystems, and to the economy in general.
“My Government has declared the matter a National Emergency. My Government is taking urgent action to alleviate the problem while developing a plan for its definitive long-term resolution. We will utilise the best local and international expertise we can access. A dedicated team is already at work and has started to present its advice and recommendations to the Cabinet. Discussions are also under way to source funding and technical support for this emergency project,” she stated.
Dame Sandra added, “Attention is also being turned to the ageing Bridgetown plant. Diversion of waste from the South Coast has placed additional pressure on this plant. Urgent pre-emptive and longer-term action is now needed to avert a similar occurrence in our capital city.”
Referring to Government’s intention to re-profile the country’s national debt, the Governor General said that along with other sources of funding and savings, Government will use the fiscal space achieved through the debt re-profiling efforts, to finance the solutions to address some of the mission critical areas that have been identified. She indicated that these include providing an adequate number of buses to meet the public’s transportation needs and an adequate fleet of trucks to ensure a consistent and competent garbage collection service. Additionally, she said that Government will expand the Accident and Emergency Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and extend the opening hours at two of the island’s polyclinics.
Her comments came as she indicated that the Mia Mottley-led Government will also do away with the tipping fee for solid waste disposal, which she stated has contributed to a significant rise in illegal dumping. Moreover, she stated that Government will promote National Clean-Up and Beautification Programmes, aimed at returning order and cleanliness to the island’s landscape.
Government also intends to tackle the country’s poor road infrastructure. According to Dame Sandra, the new administration will immediately utilise existing and procure additional funding and equipment to carry out a costed road repair and rebuilding programme, starting with the most heavily trafficked roads. She made the disclosure while indicating that the country’s water woes will hopefully soon be a thing of the past, as there is a plan to deal with the persistent problem of access to and availability of running water, particularly in communities in the north and east of the island.
“We will ensure that the Barbados Water Authority assists householders in the purchase and installation of water tanks, to allow for greater resilience at the household level. My Government will transition to renewable energy and backup power at all pumping stations and reservoirs to provide continued service during natural disasters and other emergencies,” the Governor General indicated. (JRT)