Utilities Minister Melford Nicholas has pledged that residents of the eastern communities, including St. Philip’s North, will have round-the-clock water supply by the end of Saturday, following complaints from constituents who say they have gone weeks without running water.
Responding at a constituency town hall meeting on Thursday night, Nicholas acknowledged the frustration of residents and said their concerns were justified.
“What you have asked for, my dear, is totally within reason,” he said. “Before the end of Saturday, the entire eastern villages will have 7 by 24 water. I give you that pledge now.”
Nicholas said the commitment was made before Cabinet earlier that day after a reorganisation of resources to improve water distribution in the area.
He admitted that while national water production has increased significantly — “three times more water” — challenges remain in moving water across the island, particularly to the far eastern districts.
“Not enough resources are available yet to make this a reality for the entire island,” he said, explaining that infrastructure limitations have affected supply to some communities.
The minister also disclosed that he received what he described as “an angry” call from Prime Minister Gaston Browne earlier in the day, underscoring the urgency of the issue.
“To understand and appreciate the urgency of this particular matter,” Nicholas said, noting that the Prime Minister’s intervention reflected the seriousness of the complaints coming from residents.
As part of the response, Nicholas said Cabinet has approved funding for an automatic water switching system to replace the manual process of opening and closing valves at locations such as Cock Pond and Church Pond. The upgrade, he said, will allow the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) to redirect water more efficiently and maintain consistent supply.
“For the time being… we have asked that we put in place a robust team to ensure that we can switch the water here,” he said.
Nicholas told residents they should be able to access water at any time of day once the changes take effect.
“Whether you get up at 4 o’clock in the morning to take a shower, or you get home at 8 in the evening and you want to do some laundry, the water should be there on demand. Hold me accountable to that from Saturday evening.”
He invited residents to contact him directly if the problem persists after the deadline, providing his phone number and encouraging community members to report any ongoing issues.
“I’m not vexed with you. I welcome your contribution,” he told one resident who raised the complaint. “It has my full and undivided attention.”
The minister said the water issue in the eastern communities has now become a top priority as the government works to stabilise supply across the island.