Premier Wheatley Issues Ultimatum on Sewage Disposal
Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley has issued a firm warning to residents of East End and Long Look regarding the discharge of sewage onto streets, as the Long Swamp Pump Station nears completion. Residents are encouraged to connect to the new sewage system to prevent environmental health issues, with free connections available until 2026.
In a decisive move to address longstanding sewage disposal issues in the East End and Long Look communities, Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley has laid down the law: the practice of sewage water running through the streets will soon be a thing of the past. This declaration comes as the Long Swamp Pump Station, a pivotal infrastructure project aimed at modernizing waste management in the area, approaches its final stages of completion.
At approximately 85 percent completion, the station is expected to be fully operational within six weeks, channeling sewage to the Paraquita Bay Treatment Plant for appropriate processing. "This has been a long journey, and I want to assure the people of the Seventh and Eighth Districts that we are committed to putting this problem behind us once and for all," Premier Wheatley stated, emphasizing the government's determination to improve public health and environmental standards.
He further warned that the government is prepared to enforce existing legislation through Environmental Health to prevent improper sewage disposal if voluntary compliance is not forthcoming. The government's proactive stance includes an offer to residents and businesses in East End, Long Look, Greenland, and Fat Hogs Bay: a free connection to the sewage system, a deal that stands until 2026.
Ministry of Communications and Works officials highlighted that the government would bear all costs associated with making these connections, including trenching and laterals, to facilitate community members' transition to the new system. As the project nears completion, with only final panels and one last road closure to go, the community's anticipation grows.
Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn echoed the Premier's call to action, urging residents to take advantage of the free connections and highlighting the decades-long struggle with sewage issues in the community. Premier Wheatley's stern warning is part of a broader vision for the British Virgin Islands - one where communities are not only beautiful but also uphold the highest standards of public health and environmental protection. "This sewage system is a benefit to the entire community.
Let's keep our communities beautiful, clean, and healthy," Premier Wheatley concluded, signaling a new era of responsibility and care for the environment in East End and Long Look.
Primary source: BVI News