Deputy PM leading water delegation to Netherlands
Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw will lead a team of Barbados Water Authority (BWA) officials to the Netherlands next week to get help from their water resource management experts.
Speaking during a wide ranging press conference at Ilaro Court on Thursday evening, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley said the team would be going to the European nation in order to access substantive technical support and coordination from their Government as well as several universities.
In Mottley’s opinion, this is an area that has needed investment in Barbados for a long time.
“We are at the stage now where science must make a difference and clear strategic planning and the engineering considerations have to come to the fore.”
Bradshaw echoed those sentiments while admitting that discussions with the Dutch experts (whom she regarded as the best in the world) have been ongoing.
“The Prime Minister has opened up a lot of doors for us in recent years and the Netherlands is another one that within recent weeks she has had the opportunity to have discussions with. As a consequence, we have taken the opportunity to meet with a number of players there in the sector. The University has been scheduling a number of meetings with us so that we can speak to a number of the operators.”
She continued: “Out of this, we are hoping to get a number of best practices for the Barbados Water Authority. We have to transform the Barbados Water Authority and I think the best place to start is with one of the countries internationally that is known for doing this at a particular standard.”
Bradshaw, who is also the Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources explained that the extent of Barbados’ water scarcity situation did not allow for much time, and as such, plans had to be accelerated.
“We have to go where the countries have those best practices. This delegation is also looking to find technical experts who can complement the existing staff of the Barbados Water Authority,” she explained. “The Prime Minister has said that we need to get at least two people to come back with us. I am hoping that we can get more because the reality is that in any transition, you will need additional hands to make light work.”
The other members of the touring party include the BWA chairman David Wright and deputy chairman Dodridge Miller, technical leads Dr John Mwansa and Charles Leslie, as well as technical engineers. Chairman of the National Housing Corporation Shawn White as well a civil engineer in that department will also be part of the delegation. (JC)
Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw (FILE)