Growing water shortages in northern communities are raising fresh concerns about Saint Lucia’s readiness for the impending dry season, with schools now emerging as a key focus of national attention.
Following weeks of supply disruptions and declining levels at the John Compton Dam, questions are mounting about whether educational institutions are sufficiently equipped to operate during extended periods of water scarcity.
Education Minister Kenson Casimir acknowledged the gravity of the situation and confirmed that education officials are already collaborating with the Ministry of Health to protect students and staff. “The Chief Education Officer has been on top of this situation at schools. She is the point person negotiating and having the communication with the Ministry of Health to see how it is that we can ensure that students are in school and they are living and functioning in a safe environment,” Casimir explained.
While immediate measures are being coordinated within the education sector, the minister stressed that resolving the wider challenges posed by water shortages will require a whole-of-government response. “But as to what we can do to mitigate against it, it has to be something that is done from a Minister of Finance, Minister of Infrastructure,” he noted, underscoring the need for national-level planning and investment.
Casimir also responded to calls for the wholesale replacement of ageing school infrastructure, cautioning that the country must operate within its financial means. “We’ve been hearing calls to just do away with schools because they’ve been there since then and since then. It’s almost as if this country has unlimited resources. The fact of the matter is we have limited resources,” he stated.
Instead, the ministry is prioritizing strategic upgrades designed to strengthen water security at existing facilities. Among the proposals under active discussion are expanded water storage systems, improved building standards, and rainwater harvesting infrastructure to allow schools to better withstand supply disruptions. “We have changing building codes that we try to ensure that we can upgrade our schools, too. And one of the upgrades that we have been having active discussions about is more water storage, building systems, ensuring that we can harvest our own water at schools. Again, multi-million dollar investments,” Casimir added.
As the dry season looms, the Growing water shortages in northern communities are raising fresh concerns about Saint Lucia’s readiness for the impending dry season, with schools now emerging as a key focus of national attention.
Following weeks of supply disruptions and declining levels at the John Compton Dam, questions are mounting about whether educational institutions are sufficiently equipped to operate during extended periods of water scarcity.
Education Minister Kenson Casimir acknowledged the gravity of the situation and confirmed that education officials are already collaborating with the Ministry of Health to protect students and staff. “The Chief Education Officer has been on top of this situation at schools. She is the point person negotiating and having the communication with the Ministry of Health to see how it is that we can ensure that students are in school and they are living and functioning in a safe environment,” Casimir explained.
While immediate measures are being coordinated within the education sector, the minister stressed that resolving the wider challenges posed by water shortages will require a whole-of-government response. “But as to what we can do to mitigate against it, it has to be something that is done from a Minister of Finance, Minister of Infrastructure,” he noted, underscoring the need for national-level planning and investment.
Casimir also responded to calls for the wholesale replacement of ageing school infrastructure, cautioning that the country must operate within its financial means. “We’ve been hearing calls to just do away with schools because they’ve been there since then and since then. It’s almost as if this country has unlimited resources. The fact of the matter is we have limited resources,” he stated.
Instead, the ministry is prioritizing strategic upgrades designed to strengthen water security at existing facilities. Among the proposals under active discussion are expanded water storage systems, improved building standards, and rainwater harvesting infrastructure to allow schools to better withstand supply disruptions. “We have changing building codes that we try to ensure that we can upgrade our schools, too. And one of the upgrades that we have been having active discussions about is more water storage, building systems, ensuring that we can harvest our own water at schools. Again, multi-million dollar investments,” Casimir added.
As the dry season looms, the issue has cast a spotlight on broader vulnerabilities within national infrastructure. With classrooms dependent on reliable access to water for sanitation, hygiene, and daily operations, authorities face mounting pressure to ensure that learning continues uninterrupted despite uncertain supply conditions
