REMARKS

BY

THE HON. BRADLEY B. ROBERTS M.P.

MINISTER OF WORKS & UTILITIES

AT
 
THE CONTRACT SIGNING CEREMONY

FOR

“THE EXTENSION OF THE WATER MAINS

IN EXUMA”

EXUMA, BAHAMAS

1st JUNE, 2006
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

PARLIAMENTARY COLLEAGUES, DEPUTY SPEAKER ANTHONY MOSS, AMBASSADOR KEOD SMITH AND M.P. MALCOLM ADDERLEY;
CHAIRMAN, DEMERITTE;
Ag. GENERAL MANAGER, SHERMAN AND Sr. STAFF OF THE WATER & SEWERAGE CORPORATION;
Sr. ADMINISTRATOR, ALEXANDER FLOWERS;
UNDER SECRETARY POITIER;
CHIEF COUNCILOR REV. FRANKLYN MCKENZIE;
MR. KERMIT ROLLE, MR. CLAYTON ROLLE, MR. JONATHAN MCKENZIE;
OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS;
REVEREND LADY AND GENTLEMEN;
MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL BOARDS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,.

IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU IN BEAUTIFUL EXUMA FOR THIS CONTRACT SIGNING CEREMONY TODAY. MANY SAY OF THE EXUMAS, "IF YOU CAN'T SAIL THEM, BE SURE TO GAZE DOWN ON THEM WHEN YOU'RE FLYING OVERHEAD."

THIS CHAIN OF 365 CAYS, ONE CAY FOR EACH DAY OF THE YEAR, IS SPREAD OVER A 100-MILE LONG EXPANSE OF THE MOST BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL STRETCH OF WATERS IN THE BAHAMAS. THE MYRIAD OF UNNAMED BEACHES AND COVES EXCITE YACHTSMEN, AND DIVERS WHO RELISH THESE UNSPOILED WATERS AND MOST OF THE CAYS ARE POPULATED ONLY BY IGUANAS.

TODAY, THIS CEREMONY IS YET ANOTHER DEMONSTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO BRING POTABLE WATER TO EACH AND EVERY RESIDENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY POSSIBLE.

YOE WOULD RECALL THAT PRIME MINISTER, THE RT. HON. PERRY G. CHRISTIE, COMMISSIONED THE REVERSE OSMOSIS PLANT HERE IN GEORGE TOWN ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 2004 AND
FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
REVERSE OSMOSIS IS A TECHNIQUE FOR WATER PURIFICATION AND PRODUCTION, WHICH WAS INITIALLY DEVELOPED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE AN ABUNDANT SUPPLY OF SAFE DRINKING WATER.  IT IS A TECHNICAL BREAKTHROUGH OF NO SMALL PROPORTION.

WATER PRODUCED USING THE REVERSE OSMOSIS PROCESS CAN ACHIEVE AN ASTOUNDING PURITY LEVEL OF 97 PERCENT. THIS PROCESS EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATES ALL OF THE CONTAMINANTS YOU WILL FIND PRESENT IN WATER.  AND SO AGAIN I SAY, WE WILL GIVE YOU CLEAR AND POTABLE WATER; WATER THAT YOU CAN USE TO DRINK, COOK AND BATHE. THE QUALITY OF THE WATER WE DRINK IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE TO OUR HEALTH.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, A FRIEND RECENTLY VISITING A REMOTE ISLAND DESCRIBED THE WATER AS BEEN SO HARD, THAT WHEN HE TOOK A BATH USING A BAR OF HIS SPECIAL SOAP, THAT IN ATTEMPTING TO GENERATE SOME SUDS, THE BAR OF SOAP SLIP FROM HIS HANDS AND HIT IN THE FACE SENDING A MESSAGE THAT THE WATER WAS TO HARD FOR THE SOAP. IF THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR EXPERIENCES HERE IN EXUMA, I AM VERY PLEASED TO TELL YOU THAT IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF MONTHS BEFORE QUALITY POTABLE WILL BE FLOWING THROUGH YOUR TAPS ALLOWING YOU TO TAKE BATHS AND SHAMPOOING YOUR HAIR USING VERY LITTLE SOAP AND SHAMPOO. EXPENDITURE ON SOAPS, SHAMPOO AND DETERGENTS WILL DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. THE QUALITY OF THE RO WATER WILL BE OF THE SAME QUALITY AS THE BOTTLE WATER YOU HAVE BEEN PURCHASING OVER THE YEARS AND CAN ALSO MEAN TREMENDOUS SAVINGS FOR CONSUMERS BY SIMPLY TURNING ON THEIR TAPS. QUALITY RO WATER WILL TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF EXUMA.

THE FULFILLMENT OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT PLEDGE MADE BY YOUR LOYAL, FAITHFUL, HUMBLE, DEDICATED AND HARDWORKING MP IS A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT FOR HIM.  THE HON ANTHONY MOSS’S PERSISTENCE AND AGITATION HAS CULMINATED IN TODAY’S CONTRACT SIGNING. THERE ARE FEW MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WHO LIVES, WORK, WORSHIP AND INTERACT WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS ON A DAILY BASIS. DEPUTY SPEAKER MOSS IS ONE OF THOSE WHOM YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO LEND YOUR FULL SUPPORT. TONY IS THE MAN WHO HAS BEEN GETTING THE JOB DONE AND IS WORTHY OF CONTINUING TO SERVE YOU THE PEOPLE OF EXUMA.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IN RECENT TIMES, THE EXUMAS HAVE EXPERIENCED RAPID GROWTH LED BY THE EMERALD BAY PROJECT. AND OTHER TOURISM PROJECTS ARE CREATING A CONTINUOUS DEMAND FOR POTABLE WATER.

AS MENTIONED EARLIER, IN ORDER TO MEET THESE DEMANDS, THE CORPORATION, COMMISSIONED A 165,000 IMPERIAL GALLONS PER DAY DESALINATION PLANT AT GEORGETOWN IN NOVEMBER 2004.  HOWEVER, THE GROWING DEMAND FOR POTABLE WATER QUICKLY OUTGREW THE PLANT’S CAPACITY AND IN 2005 THE PLANT WAS EXPANDED BY A FURTHER 30,000 IMPERIAL GALLONS PER DAY.

TODAY, I AM ADVISED THAT THE CORPORATION IS HOLDING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PLANT’S OPERATOR, GENERAL ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE, TO EXPAND THE PLANT’S CAPACITY TO 330,000 IMPERIAL GALLONS PER DAY IN ORDER TO MEET THE EVER-INCREASING DEMAND IN GEORGETOWN AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

WHEN COMPLETED, THIS EXPANSION OF THE GEORGETOWN PLANT WILL ADDRESS - ONCE AND FOR ALL- THE NIGHTLY REDUCTION IN SUPPLY TO BUILD UP STORAGE FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY.  THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN A RAPIDLY EMERGING FAMILY ISLAND CITY SUCH AS GEORGETOWN THAT HAS AN INCREASING NEED FOR A RELIABLE SUPPLY OF WATER, 24 HOURS/DAY.

IN 2005 AN AGREEMENT WAS FORMALIZED WITH THE EMERALD BAY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CORPORATION TO PURCHASE UP TO 150,000 IMPERIAL GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY AT A PREFERRED RATE, TO SERVICE THE COMMUNITIES OF WESTERN EXUMA.  HOWEVER, I AM ADVISED THAT THE DEMANDS IN WESTERN EXUMA HAVE INCERESED FROM AN AVERAGE OF 69,000 IMPERIAL GALLONS PER DAY IN 2005 TO AN AVERAGE OF 122,000 IMPERIAL GALLONS PER DAY TO-DATE.

I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THE CORPORATION’S LAST REMAINING OPERATIONAL WELL FIELD IN EXUMA IS THE ROLLEVILLE WELL FIELD. THIS WELL FIELD WAS ESTABLISHED APPROXIMATELY 36 YEARS AGO IN AN AREA WITH POOR FRESHWATER RESOURCES.   DURING THE EARLY 1980S THE WATER HAD BECOME HIGHLY BRACKISH AND SINCE THEN THE QUALITY HAS CONTINUED TO DECLINE SINCE THEN.

RESIDENTS OF THE AREA HAVE CONTINUOUSLY COMPLAINTS ABOUT WATER QUALITY OVER THE YEARS.

HOWEVER, I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT AT THE COMPLETION OF THIS WATER MAINS EXTENSION PROJECT, THE GOOD PEOPLE OF ROLLEVILLE WILL BE PROVIDED WITH HIGH QUALITY DESALINATED WATER AND THE ROLLEVILLE WELL FIELD WILL BE DE-COMMISSIONED.

MY PARLIAMENTARY COLLEAGUE, DEPUTY SPEAKER ANTHONY MOSS WILL NO LONGER BE RECEIVING TELEPHONE CALLS FROM MS EDNA BAKER OF ROLLEVILLE COMPLAINING THAT THE WATER IS OFF AT THE SCHOOL OR PLEAS FROM KERMIT ROLLE THAT THE WATER IS TOO SALTY. THIS IS INDEED A RED LETTER DAY FOR ALL EXUMIANS.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE.

I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT THE RESIDENTS OF STUART MANOR AND CURTIS HAVE ALSO BEEN LOBBYING FOR A PIPED WATER SUPPLY SINCE THE 1980S BUT, THE RESOURCES IN THESE AREAS I AM ADVISED WERE LIMITED IN CAPABILITY AND CONSEQUENTLY NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.

HOWEVER, EXTENDING A NEW PIPELINE TO ROLLEVILLE PROVIDES US WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT THIS UNACCEPTABLE CONDITION AND THE RESIDENTS OF STUART MANOR AND CURTIS WILL NOW BE PROVIDED WITH THIS BASIC NECESSITY – POTABLE WATER.

THIS PROJECT, AT THIS STAGE, IS VALUED IN EXCESS OF $1.6 MILLION DOLLARS AND INCLUDES: -

• A TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FROM STEVENTON TO ROLLEVILLE AND A DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN ROLLEVILLE.

• A TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR CURTIS AND STUART MANOR TO PROVIDE THEM WITH PIPED WATER FOR THE FIRST TIME.

• WATER MAINS RENEWALS AND MINOR MAINS EXTENSIONS IN STEVENTON, HARTS, FARMERS HILL, MOUNT THOMPSON, EXUMA HARBOUR ESTATES AND ROLLE TOWN.

• A NEW DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR WILLIAMS TOWN.

FURTHER, I AM ALSO PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WILLIAMS TOWN WILL BE SUPPLIED WITH DESALINATED WATER AND THE CORPORATION HAS ALREADY COMMENCED DISCUSSIONS IN THIS REGARD WITH THE DEFINITE GOAL OF INSTALLING A RO PLANT IN THE SOUTHERN AREA OF THE ISLAND WITH 150 DAYS..
 
FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THESE WORKS, YOUR CARING PLP GOVERNMENT WILL EXTEND THE SYSTEM TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE GOOD PEOPLE OF BARRATERRE IN WESTERN EXUMA.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TODAY THERE ARE SOME FOURTEEN (14) DESALINATED PLANTS UTILIZED BY THE CORPORATION. OF THIS NUMBER, ELEVEN (11) WERE COMMISSIONED SINCE MAY 2002 AND TWO (2) OF THESE ARE IN THE EXUMA CAYS – STANIEL CAY AND FARMERS CAY.   SINCE MAY 2002, THE CORPORATION HAS EXTENDED THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS ON BOTH CAYS AS WELL.

NOTWITHSTANDING THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I AM AWARE THAT THERE ARE STILL SOME CONCERNS ON STANIEL CAY, FARMERS CAY AND BLACK POINT THAT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED.  I AM INFORMED THAT A TEAM FROM THE CORPORATION WILL BE VISITING ALL THREE (3) ISLANDS LATER THIS MONTH TO CONDUCT A NEEDS ASSESSMENT.  I WILL AWAIT THEIR REPORT AND RECOMMENDED ACTIONS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TODAY I MUST ALSO CAUTION YOU AS I DID ON APRIL 28TH, 2006 IN SAN SALVADOR REGARDING THE WASTAGE OF POTABLE WATER. AND I ASK THE QUESTION:  DOES A LITTLE LEAK IN MY HOUSE REALLY WASTE WATER?
THE ANSWER IS: IT'S NOT THE LITTLE LEAK THAT WASTES WATER -- IT IS THE LITTLE LEAK THAT KEEPS ON LEAKING THAT WASTES WATER.  AND THE FACT THAT THE LEAK IS SO LITTLE MEANS THAT MAYBE YOU IGNORE IT. SO, HOW CAN A LITTLE LEAK TURN INTO A BIG WASTE? MANY OF OUR TOILETS HAVE A CONSTANT LEAK -- SOMEWHERE AROUND 22 GALLONS PER DAY. THIS TRANSLATES INTO ABOUT 8,000 GALLONS PER YEAR OF WASTED WATER, WATER THAT COULD BE SAVED. OR THINK OF A LEAKY WATER LINE COMING INTO YOUR HOUSE.  IF IT LEAKS 1 GALLON OF WATER EVERY 10 MINUTES, THAT MEANS THAT YOU ARE LOSING (AND PAYING FOR) 144 GALLONS PER DAY, OR 52,560 GALLONS PER YEAR.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE WATER & SEWERAGE CORPORATION WAS MANDATED TO INVOLVE THE PARTICIPATION OF AS MANY LOCAL CONTRACTORS AS POSSIBLE, AND IN THIS REGARD, FIVE OF SIX COMPANIES INVITED TO SUBMIT BIDS FOR THE TRENCHING, LAYING OF WATER MAINS AND BACK FILLING WORK RETURNED THEIR BIDS.   THE TWO LOWEST BIDDERS WERE ROLLE’S HEAVY EQUIPMENT, HEADED BY MR. CYRIL ROLLE AND MARTIN’S TRUCKING, HEADED BY MR. MARTIN ROLLE.
THEREFORE, A CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED TO ROLLE’S HEAVY EQUIPMENT  UNDER:
 SCHEDULE “A”
• TRANSMISSION MAIN TO STEVENTON – ROLLEVILLE AND THE REPLACEMENT AND EXTENSIONS IN ROLLEVILLE IN THE AMOUNT OF $298,157.00; AND

SCHEDULE “B”
• TRANMISSION MAIN TO STUART MANOR AND CURTIS IN THE AMOUNT OF $302,635.50 FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT SUM OF $600,792.50.

A SECOND CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED TO MARTIN’S TRUCKING HEADED BY MR. MARTIN ROLLE UNDER:
SCHEDULE “C” :
• NEW AND REPLACEMENT MAINS IN HARTS, FARMER’S HILL, FOREST, MOUNT THOMPSON AND RAMSEY AT A COST OF $192,969.00.
SCHEDULE “D”
• NEW AND REPLACEMENT MAINS IN ALLEN TOWN, ROLLE TOWN, AND HARTSVILLE, AND MAIN EXTENSION IN CENTRAL EXUMA AT A COST OF $173,520.00 AND UNDER

SCHEDULE “E’
• NEW MAINS IN WILLIAMS TOWN AND SOUTH EXUMA AT COST OF $75,781.00 FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $448,270.00.
THE PVC WATER MAINS AND PARTS WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE WATER & SEWERAGE CORPORATION AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $500,000.00.
THE WATER & SEWERAGE CORPORATION WILL ALSO PROVIDE SITE SUPERVISION TO ENSURE FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE STRICT STANDARDS OF THE CORPORATION.

THE WORKS ARE SCHEDULED TO COMMENCE WITHIN SIX WEEKS FOLLOWING THE DELIVERY OF WATER MAINS AND PARTS FROM THE U S A. AND THE PROJECTED COMPLETION PERIOD FOR THE WORKS IS 90 DAYS.  SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE WILL INVITE THE RT. HONOURABLE PERRY CHRISTIE, PRIME MINISTER TO COME TO EXUMA TO TURN ON THE VALVE THAT WILL PROVIDE TOP QUALITY POTABLE WATER, FOR THE FIRST TIME, TO ALL THOSE SECTIONS OF EXUMA I HAVE MENTIONED.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IN CLOSING, I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN EXUMA AND I PLEDGE PERRY CHRISTIE’S GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO SUPPLY HIGH QUALITY POTABLE WATER ON A CONSISTENT BASIS TO EACH AND EVERY RESIDENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU.