By: Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 3rd May 2019) – Irritated by the government’s continued moves to construct the new Basseterre High School on a section of the Basseterre Aquifer, yesterday morning (Thursday), a group protestors of opposition the St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) – including top officials-staged a protest at the unveiling of the 3D model ceremony at the proposed Ponds Estate site, organised by the Ministry of Education.
Eyewitness reports have indicated that at least one female protestor was allegedly arrested while credible information revealed that the SKNLP immediately sought a lawyer in the matter.
Yesterday’s demonstration came one day after SKNLP candidate for Constituency One ((East Basseterre) Dr. Geoffrey Hanley said at the party’s monthly press conference that: “I want to make it absolutely clear that I am against any construction of that magnitude on top the main source of our drinking water in East Basseterre. It is a serious threat to the lives of more than half the population of across St.Kitts and Nevis, and the St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party and concerned citizens of St.Kitts and Nevis will not sit idly by while the government put our drinking water in danger.”
He accused the government of attempting to fool the people of the country.
“There has been much talk about what can be built on the aquifer and who lives on the aquifer. This is the argument that this government and the Hon. Ian ‘Patches’ Glasford Liburd are pushing to fool the people of this country and tell them that it is ok for the school to be built there.”
Dr. Hanley continued: “The Minister is arguing that strain was already put on the aquifer by building these projects in the Newtown area. How then can the same minister be saying that it is ok to construct a school housing some 1400 students on the same site. Is the minister saying the water issues are already at its worst so building on the aquifer will not be any different?”
The East Basseterre representative talked about what the aquifer is saying: “The aquifer is a large pool of underground water, and as you have been hearing, it spans under the constituencies One, Two, Three and Eight. This great pool of underground water has different sections that range in different sizes and depths. Have you ever wondered why other areas were developed and built on but not this one specific site? This site covers the biggest pool of underground water of them all. Ask Minister Patches; he knows!”
He then went on to state: “That is why this site must be protected. It is the main source of our drinking water. Do you remember at times whenever there were heavy rains, Newton and Ponds Pasture would be easily flooded? Think back. When you look at this area today, you will see that lots of dirt has been deposited there on the hill like structure berm was created. That was in 2014 under the Labour government. This berm was created to trap the water to replenish the aquifer and to reduce the amount of surface run-off water that constantly flooded the area. The berm was also constructed because of the decrease in level of water in the aquifer and its increasing salt content. It was built to relieve the water problems this country was facing and this is the same site this government is proposing to build such a major structure.”
“Who exactly is Team Unity Government working for; themselves or for you?” Dr. Geoffrey questioned.
Minister and Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris in the absence of the protestors asked: “How could anyone; anyone with a sane mind, anyone with a patriotic mind, stand as a stumbling block to the progress of thousands of young people who will pass through the doors of the Basseterre High School?”