IN RECENT WEEKS much has been written highlighting the water issues which some residents have to endure every day.
So bad is the situation that they have been struggling with water shortages for months, crying out and complaining of the inconvenience.
Those most affected live in the rural parishes, particularly St Joseph, St Peter and St Andrew.
While there is no doubt that more needs to be done to ease the pressure many of these residents are facing, we are indebted as a country to those who have found it in their hearts to reach out and have been giving of their time to provide water to those starved of this precious resource.
Kudos must be extended to the Water Warriors who have been making their presence felt in St Joseph and other affected areas for the last three weeks.
They have been collecting water at various locations and distributing it to thankful residents.
Members of the Independent Sea Port Taxi Union must also be recognised for their good work as they loaded their vehicles with water and headed to St Andrew last Saturday to help the folk there who have complained of dry taps for more than five weeks.
Truck driver at Rotherley Construction Edwin Harper and friend Sherwin Hunte must also be commended as they moved through St Joseph distributing water.
These good deeds should not go unnoticed and those involved praised for all they are doing to ease the stress of residents.
While we recognise and commend this work, it is necessary for Government to match these efforts to deal with the ongoing water issues that have been plaguing the country for too long.
In fact, we believe it is high time that Minister of Water Resource Management Dr David Estwick and officials from the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) get on the ground and walk through the affected parishes to hear the cries and complaints of residents.
Only then will they truly have an appreciation for what those who live without tap water are facing every day.
The residents need to feel that their cries are being heard and are being acted upon. They need to feel that the decision-makers within the BWA understand their plight.
Dr Estwick is scheduled to hold a press conference tomorrow at his office, and while we do not want to pre-empt what he will say, we hope he will be outlining further plans to deal with the water situation facing Barbados.
While we recognise that Government does not have all the answers and as citizens we all have a role to play in safeguarding this resource, it is incumbent on those charged to not only look at short-term solutions, but also long-term measures that will protect it.
In the meantime, we all must be our brother’s keeper and look out for our neighbours and countrymen who may be in distress at this time.
