St. George's Grenada, February 11th, 2010: Members of the Opposition are calling on the Government to rescind the decision to deny senior citizens through out the island of a very basic necessity – water.

The Opposition is concerned about the number of persons who are over the age of 80, bedridden or physically challenged who have received notices from NAWASA to make payments on their water bill within 48 hours.  The notice indicates that failure to do so will result in disconnection. 

The Opposition said these elderly citizens who have worked so hard and have contributed so much to the development of Grenada, were placed on a special programme by the NNP Government and received free water because of their inability to make the payments.  The Oppositions says with the increased cost of living and a soon to be implemented increase in the cost of water, only a heartless government will take such extreme action.

In some cases the persons who were removed from the Water Assistance Programme were also removed from the Public Assistance Programme.  This leaves them not only without running water but without basic needs such as medication and electricity. 

The Opposition condemns the actions of the Government to provide free school books to persons who have indicated that they are in no need of it while at the same time taking away basic services such as water from those who cannot afford it. 

Office of the leader of the Opposition