Basseterre, St. Kitts (MoPIEUDT NEWS) – Citing climatic changes as the reason for reduced rainfall and the resulting decreases in the amount of water retrievable from surface water and groundwater sources, the Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy & Utilities, and Domestic Transport, Hon. Konris Maynard, explained why the investment in the Basseterre Desalination Plant is critical, stating:
“In the Basseterre area, it was determined that there are no real new sources of either surface water or groundwater that we can access.”
– Hon. Konris Maynard
Minister Maynard made the statement during his presentation at a town hall meeting on desalination on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, held in the lead-up to the commissioning of the new Basseterre Desalination Plant at the C.A. Paul Southwell Industrial Site.
The town hall meeting represents the third of the Minister’s engagements in December 2025, held exclusively to apprise the general public of the progress on the Basseterre Desalination Plant and complementary efforts of the St. Kitts Water Services Department (WSD) to ensure the restoration of round-the-clock water service islandwide.
On December 4, Minister Maynard appeared on ZIZ Radio’s Morning Show with G. Cue and Freedom FM’s Issues with Jamielle McPhail, accompanied by WSD’s Chief Engineer Landrith Mikhail Isaac and Plant Supervisor Francis Zelaya. The trio shared details of the new plant and ongoing work to improve service around the island.
In recent years, residents of St. Kitts have confronted the reality of regular water service interruptions as the WSD implemented necessary conservation measures which many describe as rationing.
Speaking on the matter and the work in which his Ministry is engaged to resolve it, Minister Maynard stated:
“We gave the commitment that in a modern-day St. Kitts and Nevis, we should not have a situation where we have to ration water.”
– Hon. Konris Maynard
Now, with the EC 50-million-dollar investment in desalination about to be realized as the commissioning of the Basseterre Desalination Plant draws close, hope remains for improved water service through a plant poised to become the new symbol of innovation and leadership in water service.
