Hon. Kedrick Pickering
Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News
Hon. Kedrick Pickering
Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News
"I will urge you Mr. Premier, that not only that you have much at stake in terms of your Government, but you have much at stake in terms of your own legacy because you are disenfranchising our own people," Seventh District Representative, Hon. Kedrick Pickering told Premier Hon. Ralph T. O´Neal during last Thursday's sitting of the House Assembly.
A passionate Pickering was at the time venting his frustration over the entire BiWater issue and the allegations that a foreign company is likely to come in to run the Baugher´s Bay Plant.
Pickering told the House that the issue is now a national one, because the BVI Investment Club cannot be allowed to fail.
He said that he is hurt over the fact that the Government is eager to negotiate with another company to run the Baugher´s Bay Plant over Ocean Conversion.
"Why that same degree of urgency that is being done to negotiate with another company for Baugher´s Bay Plant could not be done with Ocean Conversion? It begs the question as to what else is going on...The urgency to have an agreement with other people...It really boggles my mind. All OC was asking for is an opportunity to sit down and negotiate an operational agreement with the Government of the day. It has gotten to the point where the issue is troubling...We are advancing money to a company without a contract...it's a serious national issue. I am deeply troubled about this entire situation," Pickering opined.
The Seventh District Representative said that the entire situation is sad and causes him to have sleepless nights.
"The whole issue of how you are treating our own people surrounding the water and what the implications are...the continual darkness that surrounds this issue. It is worrying to me and my spirit is deeply troubled. And it´s not going away. I cannot sleep anytime I think about it. How can we disenfranchise our own people so blatantly," he questioned.
Premier Hon. Ralph T. O'Neal
Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News
Premier Hon. Ralph T. O'Neal
Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News
Meanwhile, Minister for Education and Culture, Hon. Andrew Fahie during his contribution told the House that the problem in the BVI is not the BiWater issue, but one of philosophy and until that changes, it will continue to be said that the country is in trouble.
The First District Representative reminded the House of what took place in 2000 where a local company was hired to address the sewerage issues, but in 2003 when the National Democratic Party (NDP) took office, that local company was eliminated, allowing the foreign company Global Water to do the sewerage.
According to Fahie, two wrongs in politics will never make a right and if they are going to look at BiWater, they must not forget about Global Water.
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