Basseterre, St Kitts, June 11, 2026 (PMO) – Prime Minister, Hon Dr. Terrance Drew, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to achieving reliable 24-hour water access across St. Kitts, describing it as a national priority and a central component of the administration’s long-term development agenda.
Speaking in the National Assembly on Thursday, June 11, Prime Minister Drew outlined the extensive investments being made to modernize the Federation’s water infrastructure and strengthen the country’s capacity to withstand prolonged drought conditions.
Since assuming office in 2022, the Drew-led Government has embarked on one of the most ambitious water infrastructure programs in the nation’s history, investing more than EC$60 million in projects aimed at improving production, storage and distribution.
These investments have included major drilling initiatives, the construction of a desalination plant, upgrades to critical infrastructure, expansion of water distribution networks, and the procurement of pumps, motors and other equipment to increase the reliability of the system.
Prime Minister Drew pointed to the success of investments in communities such as Cayon, where a newly developed well has significantly improved water availability even amid current drought conditions.
“We invested 10s of 100s of 1000s of dollars to secure a well in Cayon, and today Cayon is one of those communities where 90 plus percent of the members of that community have access to 24/7 water, even under the drought situation at this time,” he said.
The Prime Minister also announced that additional infrastructure improvements are underway, including new connections linking water sources to St. Peter’s and surrounding communities, as well as the installation of new pumps expected to further improve water distribution in the coming days.
“These are not temporary measures, these are transformational investments designed to build long-term resilience and ensure water security for future generations,” Dr. Drew stated.
The Government’s wider strategy includes continued drilling operations in Saddlers and other communities around the island as part of a broader effort to expand water production and ensure equitable access to water throughout the Federation.
“Everyone will have access to 24/7 water, which is our political objective,” the Prime Minister declared.
While acknowledging that current drought conditions continue to present challenges, Dr. Drew emphasized that the Government remains focused on delivering both immediate relief and permanent solutions.
“While some citizens continue to experience difficulties because of the severity of the drought, we want the nation to know that we are working every day to provide both immediate relief and permanent solutions,” he said.
Prime Minister Drew stressed that achieving universal 24-hour water access cannot be accomplished overnight, particularly given the state of the infrastructure inherited in 2022. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that the ongoing investments will continue to deliver measurable improvements.
