Date: January 16, 2004
Contact: Angela Johnson
Phone: 340-773-6449
angelaborchert@yahoo.com
ACTING GOV. VARGRAVE RICHARDS DEMANDS URGENT ACTION BY DPW TO FIX ST.
CROIX SEWAGE PROBLEMS
Acting Governor Vargrave Richards chided the commissioner and representatives
of Public Works for their nonchalant, laissez faire approach to the
horrendous sewage problem that continues to plague St. Croix.
The Acting Governor directed Public Works Commissioner Wayne Callwood
to supervise, monitor and ensure that the necessary tasks are completed
to stop the flow of sewage into the sea.
"Sewage flowing into the ocean must be prevented by all means
necessary," Richards said. "It is a health hazard, number
one. And second, it is causing further economic hardships for the people
of St. Croix."
Commissioner Callwood said General Engineering Contractors on Friday
began the installation of a pump that will connect with a "T"
bypass at the Lagoon Street Pump Station and route the flow of sewage
to the Anguilla Wastewater Treatment Plant. This will immediately curtail
the hazardous flow of wastewater in the Lagoon area of Frederiksted.
"This will be completed by Monday," Callwood said of emergency
repairs at the Lagoon Street Pump Station by GEC. "We will work
throughout the weekend to make sure this problem gets fixed."
The Acting Governor directed Commissioner Callwood to work throughout
the weekend if necessary to ensure its completion.
Acting Governor Richards demanded that all department heads involved
in addressing the territory's wastewater problems do so with a dire
sense of urgency.
"Work must move posthaste to improve the infrastructure of St.
Croix, and the territory as a whole," Richards said. "Residents
have the right to live in a community where they can expect that basic
standards of public health and safety will be upheld."
