But Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley roundly criticized the Prime Minister for placing conditions on aid, saying it was "disgusting, distasteful and divisive" and "will bring shame" to the country and erase its leadership role historically in helping fellow Caribbean.

Rowley also described as "insulting" an earlier remark attributed to the Prime Minister to the effect that she did not want to see other Caricom states seeking or expecting aid from Port of Spain as if they were lining-up for cash "at an ATM" (Automatic Teller Machine).

The opposition leader said he would boycott a meeting arranged by the prime minister to discuss how to charge recipients for aid received.

However, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar, under heavy criticism in the media at home and across the Caribbean, called a press conference Thursday to explain her earlier remarks, at which she blamed the press for "misunderstanding" and/or "distorting" her remarks.

The Trinidad & Tobago prime minister revealed at the press conference that she will be visiting the affected islands on Friday; and said that the sort of conditional benefits she referred to was that the aid she will be bringing along on that trip will all be goods with the "Made in Trinidad & Tobago" label.

Meanwhile, health concerns are growing on St. Lucia, where Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) water, sanitation and engineering specialists are on island to assist, along with British naval troops assisting in recovery and restoration work.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Merlene Frederick said urged caution about handling water, which continues to be a serious problem that has caused the government to declare "a water related state of emergency" along with the "state of national disaster" also declared earlier this week.

The damaged and inaccessible eight-million-gallon daily output Roseau Dam is expected to remain out of action for weeks and many related water intakes and outlets around the island are either destroyed or badly in need of repair.

Evidence of water piracy is also emerging in St. Lucia: a water tank belonging to the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association was raided and its contents stolen; and in at least one case, a water tank inside a police-related compound in the capital, Castries, was raided by civilians seeking water.

In many areas persons are resorting to using water from rivers, triggering concerns among health authorities. Many engaging in the dangerous practice say they are aware of the dangers, but have no choice as their taps are empty.

Water purification tablets are being distributed island-wide and government has engaged a ship equipped with a desalination plant with a capacity of 400 tons of water per day, to ease the critical water situation.

Prime Minister King has had discussions with neighbouring Dominica's Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, regarding water-rich Dominica providing water to Saint Lucia via barges.

The National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) has also arranged for kidney patients from the south of the St. Lucia to be flown to Victoria Hospital in the north for dialysis and treatment.