A simmering public grievance boiled over into direct action in the quiet coastal village of Castara, Tobago, on Wednesday, when angry residents ignited debris, blocked key local roads, and demanded urgent intervention to resolve a debilitating month-long disruption to their piped water supply. For weeks, the community has endured inconsistent or completely absent water access, forcing households to ration stored reserves and rely on unregulated alternative sources to carry out even the most basic daily tasks, from cooking to cleaning.
Renrick Jackson, a long-time Castara resident and one of the organizers of the demonstration, told reporters that the community’s patience had run out after repeated unaddressed complaints to local water officials. “We are exhausted and fed up with this ongoing neglect,” Jackson said during the protest. “We took to the streets today to make our voices heard, and if this issue is not resolved as quickly as possible, this will not be the last you see of us. The disruption has upended every part of our lives – families are being forced to reallocate water set aside for farm and livestock just to drink and cook, simply because there is no other option.”
Residents specifically point to unaddressed leaks along the local transmission line and inconsistent, unfair distribution as the core of the crisis. Omari Solomon, another hillside resident, explained that geographic inequity has exacerbated the problem for households located at higher elevations. “Water does make it to some parts of the village, but it all goes to low-lying, flat areas,” Solomon said. “The problem is simple: WASA technicians are supposed to adjust the valve and pressure line to get water up the hill, but they never show up when they say they will. Most of us up here have gone weeks without consistent running water.” Jackson added that WASA crews have been observed driving past the known leaks daily for weeks without stopping to make repairs, leaving residents feeling completely ignored.
Shortly after the protest began, local and national officials acknowledged the crisis and outlined steps to resolve the issue. Minister of Public Utilities Barry Padarath confirmed that the community’s demands had been escalated to his office, noting that cross-island logistical delays had held up critical repair work for weeks. “We have been struggling to transport heavy required equipment from Trinidad to Tobago to fix the faults that are straining the local distribution line,” Padarath explained. “But we have now secured assistance from the Tobago House of Assembly to source local heavy equipment while we wait for our mobilization from Trinidad to be completed.”
To provide immediate relief to affected residents, especially those on elevated terrain where low pressure has cut off access entirely, Padarath added that additional emergency water trucking routes have been arranged, with service expected to be fully operational by the end of the protest day. Public Utilities Secretary Ricky Joefield also traveled to Castara on Wednesday to meet with residents and oversee the ongoing relief and repair efforts.
In an official public statement released Wednesday, the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) confirmed it had launched an urgent response to the community’s concerns, noting that multiple leaks along the transmission line connecting the Bloody Bay Water Treatment Plant to Castara and surrounding areas had left high-elevation customers without consistent service for more than a month. The authority announced it had already deployed two water trucks to serve affected communities across Northside Tobago, including Castara and neighboring Parlatuvier, while repair teams worked to seal active leaks across the network.
WASA officials explained that while a major pressure-reducing leak was successfully repaired on Saturday, unforeseen electrical and mechanical failures at Bloody Bay Well #1 on Monday extended the service disruption. Full restoration of the water system was projected to be completed by 2 a.m. Thursday. The authority also implemented a temporary scheduled water distribution program for high-elevation areas to ensure fair access while final repairs are completed: high points in the Castara Housing Scheme will receive water from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday and on Saturdays, while high points in Parlatuvier will receive daily scheduled distribution limited by overall system capacity.
WASA has also deployed dedicated customer response and communications teams to the area to provide residents with real-time updates and address individual concerns. “We fully understand the deep inconvenience and frustration this extended outage has caused our customers, especially those in elevated areas, and we share the community’s sense of urgency,” the statement read. “We can assure all residents that every available resource is being deployed to stabilize the distribution network and restore a reliable, consistent water supply as quickly as possible.” Residents seeking additional information or emergency trucked water deliveries are encouraged to contact WASA’s 24/7 call center, operating three dedicated lines for the affected region.