Cline Blames Fraser for Water Crisis
Bishop John Cline told the NDP Radio Programme that the Biwater agreement signed during Julian Fraser’s tenure has left the government paying roughly $1.5 million a month while failing to deliver reliable water to households. Fraser has previously denied signing the contract, saying it was negotiated by former party leader Ralph T. O’Neal and arguing the real problem is outdated distribution infrastructure.
Bishop John Cline has placed responsibility for the Virgin Islands’ persistent water problems “squarely at the feet of Julian Fraser,” saying a controversial purchase agreement has saddled the government with heavy ongoing costs while failing to resolve supply and distribution issues.
Speaking on the NDP Radio Programme on ZBVI Radio 780 AM on Wednesday, July 22, Cline said the arrangement with Biwater — which he says was commissioned under the leadership of Hon. Fraser — obliges the government to pay about $1.5 million each month, or more than $15 million a year, with additional interest penalties for late payment. “You’re talking about over $15 million every year, and you can’t be late because there are interest penalties for every day you’re late,” he told listeners.
Cline criticised the decision to centralise water production with Biwater and argued that the move replaced a working system with one that has not met the territory’s needs. He said Biwater was expected to produce 2.3 million gallons of water per day but that, even where production exists, ageing distribution infrastructure has prevented a reliable flow to households across the territory. “Honorable Fraser signed that contract and commissioned the plan to centralise water to Biwater, who now cannot fully produce the water the country needs, and on top of that, there was no sound plan for distribution,” Cline said.
The bishop’s comments, published by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), revive long-standing public debate over the Biwater contract and the government’s role in water-sector reform. The financial obligations Cline cites — monthly payments and potential penalties — raise questions about the contract’s fiscal impact on public finances and the ability of taxpayers to sustain the costs without commensurate service improvements.
Julian Fraser has previously denied being responsible for introducing the Biwater purchase agreement during his time as Works Minister more than a decade ago. In statements made in 2023, Fraser said the deal was negotiated and taken to Cabinet by then party leader Hon. Fraser has also argued the central issue has been the territory’s failure to upgrade distribution infrastructure rather than Biwater’s production capacity.
The exchange highlights continuing tensions over water policy in the BVI: the cost and structure of procurement contracts, the state of distribution networks, and the need for clear accountability. Residents and policymakers alike will be watching for any government steps to review contract terms, address infrastructure gaps, and improve the reliability of water delivery.
Primary source: VINO