St Lucia Minister for Agriculture, Honorable Alfred Prospere, announced Monday that St Lucia is no longer under a water-related emergency.
The emergency, declared on May 17, 2024, was due to low rainfall with negative impacts on water levels at the John Compton Dam, worsened by high temperatures during the dry season.
Prospere shared the update during a pre-cabinet briefing, citing recommendations from key stakeholders. “The Cabinet of Ministers, based on recommendation from the key stakeholders like WASCO and Meteorological services…, took a decision to revoke the water-related emergency effective immediately,” he said.
Prior to the emergency, WASCO had limited water supply to high-altitude communities, forcing residents to rely on water trucks for potable water.
Although water levels have returned to normal, Prospere urged continued responsible water usage. “All the restrictions we had in terms of water use during the water-related emergency have been lifted, and now people are free to use water as normal. [However], I’m not saying that just because we’ve revoked [the emergency], you can use water lavishly. We must remember that water is a very, very important resource for our country,” he warned.
St Lucia’s water crisis echoed similar challenges across the Caribbean, affecting nations like St Vincent, Grenada, Trinidad, St. Kitts, and Dominica. Water security remains a key issue as more intense dry seasons threaten traditional rainwater harvesting methods in the region.
Source/Photo Credit: Office of the Prime Minister
