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Hardly surprisingly, the water contract has been awarded to Air-Fin, six votes to three, two opposition members were not even present.

According to the report from SMNN, Roy pointed to former GEBE MD Julias Lambert's remarks about it being simple, increase capacity at the lowest price. To some people is must seem that simple, but there are many other aspects that needed to be considered and it is far from proved that this contract is the best deal or solution for the island.

Reverse Osmosis is not nuclear science, GEBE is quite capabale of running water plants and if permitted to do so it would bring costs down, there would be no middle man, like Barendson. Roy and the Exco apparently have no confidence in GEBE, harlyy suprising really, the lackluster attempt by GEBE to hang onto ithe plant and prospect of becoming a producer shows it's MD has no confindence in it either.

It is reported that Roy talked about growth patterns, mentioning how Cupecoy has grown more than expected. We would like to point out Belevedere, Hope Estate, St Johns, The Village, Ebenezer, Dawn Beach Estates, Constellation and Aquarius, not to mention the cruise ships. Is his claim that building a plant at Point Blanche would cost more a guess? We would like to see the report that says this is so. Low lands is easily supplied by Cay Bay, supplying SXM East requires continuous pumping over hills. Have those savings been considered too? Of course, not, no real study has taken place here on what would be best.

We remain convinced that this water contract is a bad deal for SXM, the island can find millions to invest in building an airport, harbor and roundabouts with statues, but it can't find money to invest in it's own water plant? Amazing, particularly when a monopoly on a vital commodity is guarenteed.

Those statues aren't cheap either. Formidable opposition indeed!

SXM PE

Majority approves new water supply contract - 1st June 2007

Water contract awarded to Air-Fin - 1st June 2007

Air-Fin awarded water contract - 31st May 2007

Barendson explains - 30th May 2007

Roy - No need for inspection of water plant - 29th May 2007