Pierre Leads High-Level Engagement with Tourism Sector on Dry-Season Water Supply Challenges
Thursday, March 5, 2026 – The Office of the Prime Minister has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to addressing the current dry-season water supply challenges following a high-level meeting convened by Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre on March 4, 2026, with leaders from the tourism private sector and key water-sector decision makers.
The meeting formed part of the Prime Minister’s continued direct engagement with stakeholders as the Government works to stabilize water supply disruptions affecting both tourism operations and households across the island.
Prime Minister Pierre was joined by senior members of Cabinet and technical officials including Hon. Keithson Hermine Charles, Minister for Physical Development and Public Utilities; Hon. Wayne D. Girard, Minister for Economic Development and Youth Economy; and Hon. John Paul Estephane, Minister in the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Heritage.
Also present were Chairman of the Water and Sewerage Company Inc. (WASCO), Mr. Trevor Louisy; WASCO Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Zilta George-Leslie; and Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries of Tourism and Public Utilities.
Representatives from hotels and tourism service providers participated in the discussions, raising immediate operational concerns and presenting practical proposals aimed at minimizing disruption to businesses, safeguarding the visitor experience, and protecting the welfare of employees and their families.
Chaired by the Prime Minister, the meeting facilitated frank and constructive dialogue focused on identifying both urgent and sustainable responses to the challenges presented by the current dry season.
During the engagement, Prime Minister Pierre presented a scorecard outlining the financial support provided by the Government of Saint Lucia to WASCO in recent years. He acknowledged that the country’s water supply challenges are rooted in longstanding issues of ageing and vulnerable infrastructure, which now require accelerated interventions and strategic investments.
The Prime Minister underscored the importance of pursuing practical actions that can be implemented immediately while Government continues to advance medium- and long-term investments aimed at strengthening national water security.
Participants welcomed the opportunity for direct engagement with the Prime Minister and expressed appreciation for the Government’s collaborative and solutions-focused approach. Stakeholders also indicated that the tourism private sector will present a proposed action plan within the coming days reflecting priority interventions discussed during the meeting.
The engagement concluded with agreement to establish a dedicated working group that will convene on Friday, March 7, 2026, to finalize implementation schedules and identify financial and technical requirements for priority initiatives, including:
• Works on the Northern Pipeline
• The barging of water as an emergency support measure
• Incentive frameworks to encourage increased commercial and domestic water harvesting
• A structured engagement strategy with water truckers to strengthen coordination, reliability, and service standards
Discussions also highlighted the broader context of climate change and its impact on small island developing states such as Saint Lucia, where dry seasons are expected to become more frequent and severe.
Chief Executive Officer of the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association, Noorani M. Azeez, noted that the engagement marked an important step toward immediate stabilization and long-term resilience:
“We acknowledge the seriousness of the water supply disruptions and the strain this is placing on tourism businesses and on the household needs of our team members. However, we are encouraged by the Prime Minister’s focus on practical measures aimed at stabilizing the situation. With climate change intensifying dry-season risks, sustainable adaptation measures such as water harvesting, efficiency upgrades, and stronger resilience planning are critical to our sustainability as a small island developing state heavily dependent on tourism.”
The Office of the Prime Minister emphasized that the working group mechanism will support accelerated implementation, transparent scheduling, and clear accountability for delivery, while balancing emergency stabilization efforts with the Government’s broader commitment to long-term water security.
Further updates will be provided following the working group meeting, including timelines, financing requirements, and priority actions for immediate execution.
