Barbados: Emergency repairs start on sewage plant

Event

The Barbados Minister of Environment announced on Monday, June 4, that emergency repairs had started at the main sewage plant on the south coast. According to officials, the government has ordered the repairs to be completed in two weeks. During this time, areas around the Lake Folly facility and the River Road Pumping Station will be cordoned off for public safety reasons. On June 1, Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that the ongoing sewage problems on the south coast were a national crisis and that all necessary resources would be allocated to fix the issue.

Context

According to government officials, the sewage processing facility is operating at less than a quarter of its capacity and there is a significant risk of collapsing. At the beginning of 2018, the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) reported a sewage leak along the south coast that forced some residents and businesses to move from the area.

Advice

Individuals in Barbados are advised to monitor the situation and obey all instructions issued by the local authorities.