Gov’t shouldn’t blame others for water crisis, says Walwyn

It is long past the time for the government to move on from the proverbial blame game and take full responsibility for the territory’s water woes, Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn has urged.

Walwyn made the argument after reporters questioned opposition members over whether previous governments contributed to the constant disruptions facing the water distribution network and what role some of them may have had as former lawmakers in making the system worse.

It was suggested that the terms of the current water distributor’s contract were changed favourably years ago, despite a record of poor performance.

But Walwyn, while arguing that the issue was largely academic, pointed out that contracts are changed across governments for varying reasons and said this could not have been the root of the problem.

“The point of the matter that we have to get to know is that we have a water crisis in the country. The current government has been here for the last five years. When you serve two terms, if you serve five years, you own the problem,” Walwyn said.

He added: “You don’t get to look back in the rearview mirror and say that it was the next guy. You campaigned for the next guy’s job and you got the job. Now is your chance now to fix whatever problems there are. From my little understanding, there is not a water production problem in the country.”

As water continues to be produced, the lawmaker argued that the real challenge facing the territory is its ability to receive and distribute the water.