Kingstown St. Vincent May 9, 2026-The Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines has stepped up its response to severe water shortages affecting communities across the Grenadines, with coordinated action led by Minister of Grenadines Affairs Hon. Terrence Ollivierre and Minister of Health Hon. Daniel Cummings.
Speaking about the crisis, Minister Ollivierre confirmed that water is being transported from the mainland to the islands.
“We are continuing the process of supplying water from mainland St Vincent via the boat,” he said, noting that deliveries will continue to Mayreau and Union Island. He added that trucks from the Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA) and smaller vehicles on the islands are being mobilised to distribute water to residents at multiple locations.
Ollivierre acknowledged that the shortage has reached “crisis proportion” in some areas, but assured residents that the government remains committed to providing relief.
“We will do our best to make sure that both mainland and the Grenadines get the water that they need,” he said.
Minister Cummings urged both public and private stakeholders to conserve water and report leaks promptly.
“Whenever you see a leak, we urge you to call the water authority. They will respond and get it fixed,” he said. He also appealed to households to prevent wastage from overflowing tanks and faulty systems.
Cummings highlighted that the Grenadine islands currently lack a formal water distribution network, but said new projects are being developed to address that gap.
“The projects coming on stream will not just deal with production of water, but there will be adequate storage at elevation to allow water to feed by gravity to homes,” he said.
The initiative will include transmission and distribution mains, creating what he described as a “comprehensive water distribution system as you expect in a normal society.”
Both ministers emphasised that while the mainland is also facing supply challenges, the government’s priority is to ensure equitable access to water across the country.
The drought has intensified pressure on infrastructure and prompted renewed calls for long-term investment in water resilience across the Grenadines.