Authorities in Tobago have declared a state of emergency following the deliberate sabotage of four critical water wells, an act being characterized as ‘domestic terrorism.’ The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) confirmed that coordinated vandalism targeting electrical systems at high-production facilities has resulted in the loss of 2.1 million gallons of daily water output, severely impacting seventeen communities across the island.
The affected wells—Arnos Vale Well #4, Bacolet Well #3, Bloody Bay Well #1, and Claude Noel Highway Well—were systematically disabled between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. on Saturday. WASA Chief Executive Dain Maharaj described the operation as ‘well-planned and well-coordinated,’ noting that perpetrators specifically targeted infrastructure vital to Tobago’s water distribution network.
In response to the crisis, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has partnered with WASA to implement emergency restoration protocols and enhance security measures. Ricky Joefield, THA Secretary for Public Utilities, confirmed that technical teams are conducting repairs while truck-borne water supplies are being deployed to affected households, hotels, and businesses. Security patrols have been intensified around all WASA facilities, with plans to install additional CCTV surveillance systems.
Law enforcement agencies are investigating the incident, with penalties for convicted saboteurs including substantial fines and imprisonment. WASA has established emergency hotlines (639-6850, 639-6853, 639-9272) for water requests and encourages citizens to report suspicious activity via 465-2949.
As of last night, WASA reported successful restoration of three primary wells—Arnos Vale, Bacolet, and Claude Noel Highway—with water quality testing underway at Bloody Bay Well #1 before full reactivation. The authority is developing an interim distribution schedule to mitigate impacts during the upcoming Easter holiday period, though repair cost assessments remain pending.