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Opposition Leader Marlon Penn is calling on the Virgin Islands Government to immediately introduce a water assistance and subsidy programme for residents who have been forced to purchase water as prolonged drought conditions continue to affect communities across the territory.
In a statement issued to the public, Penn said that while residents have endured months of severe drought, they should not also have to endure what he described as the Government's failure to adequately manage and provide one of life's most basic necessities, potable water.
According to the Opposition Leader, many families have gone for extended periods without a reliable public water supply, leaving household cisterns depleted and forcing residents to repeatedly purchase trucked water at considerable personal expense.
Penn argued that what was once an occasional expense has now become a recurring financial burden for many households, particularly at a time when residents are already grappling with rising food prices, higher electricity bills, increasing fuel costs and an overall rise in the cost of living.
"The reality is simple: access to potable water is not a luxury. It is a basic necessity and a fundamental responsibility of Government," Penn stated, adding that residents should not have to pay twice for water, first through their taxes and then again through repeated purchases from private suppliers because of unreliable public service.
He said the prolonged disruptions to the public water supply represent more than an inconvenience, describing them as a failure of governance.
Penn is urging Premier and Minister of Finance Natalio Wheatley and Minister for Communications and Works Kye Rymer to establish an immediate financial assistance programme for residents who have been forced to buy water because of the drought and ongoing shortcomings in the public water system.
"If Government cannot provide the service, then Government has a duty to help cover the cost of securing that service elsewhere," he said.
Penn also criticised what he described as the Government's failure to anticipate challenges and adequately prepare for emergencies, arguing that residents deserve decisive leadership when essential public services break down.
He said patience alone cannot solve the crisis, noting that it does not refill empty cisterns, reduce water bills or ease the difficult financial decisions families are making as they struggle to meet basic living expenses.
Describing the situation as having reached a breaking point, Penn said the Government must acknowledge the hardship facing residents and move swiftly to provide meaningful financial relief.
"As Leader of the Opposition, I stand with the residents of the Virgin Islands in demanding urgent action," Penn said. "The time for explanations has passed. The time for leadership is now."
In a statement issued to the public, Penn said that while residents have endured months of severe drought, they should not also have to endure what he described as the Government's failure to adequately manage and provide one of life's most basic necessities, potable water.
According to the Opposition Leader, many families have gone for extended periods without a reliable public water supply, leaving household cisterns depleted and forcing residents to repeatedly purchase trucked water at considerable personal expense.
Penn argued that what was once an occasional expense has now become a recurring financial burden for many households, particularly at a time when residents are already grappling with rising food prices, higher electricity bills, increasing fuel costs and an overall rise in the cost of living.
"The reality is simple: access to potable water is not a luxury. It is a basic necessity and a fundamental responsibility of Government," Penn stated, adding that residents should not have to pay twice for water, first through their taxes and then again through repeated purchases from private suppliers because of unreliable public service.
He said the prolonged disruptions to the public water supply represent more than an inconvenience, describing them as a failure of governance.
Penn is urging Premier and Minister of Finance Natalio Wheatley and Minister for Communications and Works Kye Rymer to establish an immediate financial assistance programme for residents who have been forced to buy water because of the drought and ongoing shortcomings in the public water system.
"If Government cannot provide the service, then Government has a duty to help cover the cost of securing that service elsewhere," he said.
Penn also criticised what he described as the Government's failure to anticipate challenges and adequately prepare for emergencies, arguing that residents deserve decisive leadership when essential public services break down.
He said patience alone cannot solve the crisis, noting that it does not refill empty cisterns, reduce water bills or ease the difficult financial decisions families are making as they struggle to meet basic living expenses.
Describing the situation as having reached a breaking point, Penn said the Government must acknowledge the hardship facing residents and move swiftly to provide meaningful financial relief.
"As Leader of the Opposition, I stand with the residents of the Virgin Islands in demanding urgent action," Penn said. "The time for explanations has passed. The time for leadership is now."
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