Dear Editor,

In light of our perennial drought problem and the seeming lack of will, ability, or competence of our governments and the relevant agency, the National Water Commission (NWC), to take the necessary ameliorative steps, it is time we consider divesting the NWC.

The preferred divestment approach should be for the NWC operations, potable and wastewater/sewage, to be broken up into three county operations, or at least two entities to properly serve the island.

Each investor should be required to augment our water supply, while maintaining the high quality by developing at least one new catchment and storage facility in its region of operation.

We have several water bodies across the island, some of which could be easily developed and treated to supply our needs. After all, we are supposed to be the land of wood and water.

Additionally, as echoed elsewhere, we need to consider mandating rainwater harvesting and requiring domestic water tanks with all new constructions to at least provide a backup system. All such constructions should benefit.

As a proponent of government, we should consider divesting all public utilities and strengthening the Office of Utilities Regulation to better regulate the operational standards of all such divested utilities.

As we have done with electricity and telecommunications, so should we with water and sewerage, transportation, and oil/gas.

Garbage collection should be similarly divested with the new operators possibly considering waste to energy operations.

Kevin KO Sangster

sangstek@msn.com