Minister Nicholas Vows 100% Water Coverage by Year-End
Minister of Public Utilities Melford Nicholas has set an ambitious target to deliver consistent, island-wide water access to all residents by the end of 2025, declaring that Antigua and Barbuda must move beyond intermittent supply and drought-driven rationing.
Speaking at the commissioning of the new Ffryers Beach reverse osmosis plant on World Water Day, Nicholas acknowledged the country’s historical water challenges but said the government is determined to make 24/7 access a reality.
“Today is not a touchdown—it’s a milestone,” he told the audience. “By the end of this year, I anticipate that 100% of the population of Antigua and Barbuda will have a regular supply of water on demand.”
The new one-million-imperial-gallon-per-day plant, built in partnership with the U.S.-based Seven Seas Water Group, marks the beginning of a multi-faceted strategy to overhaul the country’s water infrastructure.
The second plant at Barnacle Point is expected to add another two million gallons daily once commissioned later this year.
Minister Nicholas detailed a roadmap that includes:
Upgrading aging pipelines with assistance from a US$60 million Chinese grant.
Restoring deteriorated reservoirs across the island, including at Buckley’s and Crabb’s.
Automating the water distribution system in the south to reduce manual valve switching and improve reliability.
Expanding storage capacity, with plans to reach 10 million gallons in reserve by year-end.
Nicholas also praised the efforts of local engineers, APUA staff, and international partners who delivered the Ffryers Beach plant ahead of schedule and under budget. He cited this partnership model as critical to achieving his ministry’s water goals.
Despite logistical and financial hurdles, the Minister said political will and inter-agency cooperation have laid the foundation for progress. “Hope springs eternal,” he said. “If the Lord gives you a commission, He will also give you the enablement.”
Currently, the new Ffryers Beach plant is supplying communities in the south with 24-hour water, and the government is aiming to replicate that success in the north and central regions in the coming months.
“Water must no longer be a political issue in Antigua and Barbuda,” Nicholas asserted. “And I’ve assured the Prime Minister that by the end of 2025, it won’t be.”
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LOL
So 24/7 water supply will not be in September anymore; it’s now end of year?
What kind ah wata he ah tark bout. Probably he go ensure all dem tusty ladies get their fill. Melford ypu han no full?
What’s with this American flag in the background??!! Is antigua now a US territory?
Deja vu….been hearing this for years. NEXT!
When I attended school I used a history book entitled, ‘Caribbean History’. Today that book is out of production. It tells me that nothing remains the same forever. Everything is changing except the rhetoric by the ALP. How many times have we heard that sorry water story. This was their main campaign push in the lead uo to the 2014 elections. Eleven years later and they are promising the same old story down the road. When will Antiguans demand more from their government? When will they stop settling for little to nothing? Would any of you labour women be willing to carry a pregnancy for a year? Certainly not. Why then do you want to hold on to a bag of air for twelve years? Antiguans, you are your own worst enemy. Get up and out of the gutter. Demand more and you will get more.
Note to self,”coverage” not water supply.
Practically every year they say the same thing. Even if yhe water manager change nothing change. They fix the hole that leaking water by Potworks yet????
Leaders have no vision so yhe people perishing. Lies lies all lies!!!!!
More empty promises, he would be better off keeping his mouth shut.
@ melford ALP is in trouble internationally and locally so we have to placate the people and tell them.nice poetry like water will be here everlasting and all a that, and the barbuda council election there to win toget more beach front lands sell to white rich mafia.
So the intention is for consumers to pay more on water ,that’s the reason why all this nice talk ? Nice to hear about the improvement on the water . I have two question , are we going to get clean water ? Or it’s going to be same old chocolate sometimes?