Barbados: PM Mottley asks public to be patient during works at Belle Pumping Station

Barbados: Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has asked the general public to be patient as the Barbados Water Authority (BWA)’s a member has been working around the clock to finish the repair works at the Belle Pumping Station.

The construction work commenced on April 10, 2022 (Monday), from 7:30 in the morning and will continue until the night until the pumps and supporting structure are not completed or secured.

The progress was checked by PM Mottley and the officers from Transport, Work and Water Resources and Senior Minister Dr William Duguid. The officials were also briefed by the top brass of the BWA.

After the visit, the Prime Minister stated that the “old cast iron structure at the pumping station laid down by the British more than a century ago and needed to be replaced without further delay. Therefore, the government decided to re-install it as if the pump fell in through that platform, then we would lose the pump, and it would take around two to three days.”

“We can’t afford it as the country’s one-third revenue relies on the Belle Pumping Station; I hope this has provided you an idea of the scale of the problem,” she further explained.

PM Mottley added, “The government asks the general public of the country to be patient with the working authorities as the work is beneficial for all of us. So, it is important that we cooperate with it from all perspectives, including occupational, health and safety.”

PM further notified that the work had definitely taken a longer time than expected as the workmen were engaged in the additional work, which added six hours to the job.

The Prime Minister thanked the workers from the BWA and the Ministry for ‘stepping up’ during this national effort to minimise the disruption of service to householders and businesses.