By Prior Beharry
MEMBER of Parliament for Princes Town, Barry Padarath says he and his fellow MPs know firsthand the frustration of going without water for months.
He was responding to news that certain areas in the heart of Port of Spain have been without water for more that two months.
Padarath said the frustrations included additional cost for a truck-borne water supply of and “have the authorities ignore your calls…”
He said this was the plight of many homeowners and businesses in South and Central Trinidad.
The shadow minister for public utilities said that while he felt for the persons in Port of Spain, he hoped that this experience will convince all groups in Trinidad and Tobago to speak up even before the problems reach your doorstep, knowing now that the problems on one side of the island will, without fail, spread throughout the country like a cancer.
He added that this situation creates a lack of productivity and affects commerce in an already challenging business environment.
Padarath said the level of incompetence coming from Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales has gone from him not knowing that leaks affect water supply, to the nation reading that WASA was baffled as to the cause of no water supply.
He said that for the past eight years the government has been promising to improve the water sector and since then to now, very little has happened in this regard. He has called for the Minister to indicate whether the Transformation Plan for WASA is meeting its targets.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) acknowledged challenges with the water supply specifically to some customers along Queen Street, Port of Spain, between Charlotte and Henry Streets.
It stated that it has been conducting various investigative works to determine the source of the problem and the most appropriate solution.
WASA stated, “To this end, a section of the distribution pipeline along Queen Street, was identified for replacement, since there is a restriction of the water flow.”
It stated that it was mobilising and obtaining the necessary approvals, in order to carry out works to replace a segment on Wednesday night.
WASA stated, “The Authority also wishes to acknowledge that it has been in communication with representatives of the impacted businesses, through the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association, who were previously informed that the works would be carried out this week.”
