The following is a statement on the South Coast sewage crisis by Leader of the opposition Mia Mottley.
On behalf of the people of Barbados I am calling on the Prime Minister to speak to his citizens and to let us know what his government will do to contain the crisis on the south coast with the sewage. This is now the second advisory in two successive days. The first one from the Canadians, and now the second one from the United States of America, advising their citizens as to the public health risks associated with the problem. Barbadians have been saying the same thing now for the last two and a half years.
What more must happen for there to be a manifestation of leadership from this Government and from this Prime Minister?
This is not a time now for only technical persons, to be talking to us. This is a time for the Prime Minister to come to the country. Tomorrow is Cabinet, settle on a short-term, a medium-term and a long term action plan, let it be the subject of discussion with Barbadians after you announce it, and let us get on with the business of putting this awful and sordid incident behind us that stands to threaten our public health, the livelihoods of too many Barbadians, the reputation of our country and the stability of the tourism industry.
I pray that they will use the opportunity of Cabinet tomorrow to settle this. Failing which, we as an Opposition will have to remind the Prime Minister on Tuesday, through a Matter of Definite Urgent Public Importance, that there is a definite matter of the sewage system affecting the health and well being of us all, and that it merits his attention and discussion at the level of Parliament. We pray that they will act before this comes on Tuesday. (PR)
