Publication: Daily Nation
Paper Date: Thu, Mar 21, 1996
Paper Page: 14A
Category: Current Affairs

Repeal or amend the 1730s Three Houses Spring Act and solve the water problems of farmers in the surrounding areas.
That plea was made by Member of Parliament for St. Philip North, Rudolph Greenidge as he addressed the Lower House on the estimated expenditure for the Ministry of Agriculture for the year 1996-97.

The Government Minister told Tuesday's sitting that farmers in the area encountered problems associated with the distribution of water especially in month of low rainfall. Central to solving these difficulties, he said was identifying who was responsible for the cleaning and general administration of the spring. But he said the existing Act did not clearly address these issues.

Greenidge also raised the matter of the damming and efficient distribution of the spring water noting that millions of gallons of water flowed daily in the sea. And he said working out these things would solve the problems encountered by farmers and which were chronicled in the news media and had also led to high court litigation. Greenidge noted that whenever a problem arose, farmers turned to their parliamentary representative and the Minister of Agriculture who responded willingly. But he said the Act did not say that the Minister of Agriculture had any responsibility for the spring and as a result, farmers were sometimes in a quandary over who could bring them results. Greenidge said that under the Act, the spring could be dammed for up to 48 hours  but he argued that while that situation might have been appropriate for the 1730's,  it was inadequate for today's Barbados and the farmers who depended on the water for the growth of their livestock and crops.

"This situation cannot continue, repeal or amend the act", the MP urged.

Greenidge, the area's parliamentary representative, said that a move was afoot to put the spring's general administration in the hands of the Barbados Water Authority which was responsible for ensuring that Barbados' water resources were maximised. He said this was a step in the right direction. The government minister also spoke about the poor quality of the road and fish market at Skeetes Bay, St. Philip which served the fishing community of Bayfield. Contending that the deterioration of the infrastructure had led to a decline in fishing there, Greenidge said he was pleased that at last improvements were to be carried out.