By Clint Chan Tack Thursday, August 27 2009

THE Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is not a sacred cow and Government will never allow it to be transformed into a ‘water cartel’ which will have the power to hold the population to ransom.

Public Utilities Minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid made this declaration at the launch of WASA’s governance manual and e-voice system at the Hilton Trinidad yesterday.

Admitting that transforming WASA into an efficient organisation was not an easy task, the minister observed that water companies around the world enjoy a unique status because “the service they offer is so vital and critical to the very survival of man.”

In such circumstances, Abdul-Hamid said it was not uncommon for these companies “to view themselves as being powerful and sacred.”

“A shrewd and misguided management can establish a carefully and balanced system in crisis, then hold themselves up as the only ones that can manage the emergencies created by their own hands,” he stated. Abdul-Hamid said any attempt “to liberate one’s country from this stranglehold can result in unpredictable, deliberately manufactured short to medium term distress for citizens.”

While concern and fear could prevent the first move to correct such a situation, Abdul-Hamid said, “In Trinidad and Tobago, we have had our challenges but not only have we made the first move, we have made great strides to correct the situation.”

Explaining that several things must be done to “set an off course water company right,” the minister added, “Without doubt the board has taken some bold and necessary decisions which have included the termination of employment of senior members of staff in whom they have lost confidence.”

He said the board has also been made better use of WASA’s in-house resources by reducing the amount of work outsourced to other companies. Abdul-Hamid added that this phenomenon has resulted in WASA employees “remaining idle and under-utilised.” “This of course resulted in a strain on WASA’s resources which it could ill afford,” he said.

The minister said he was pleased with the progress being made to transform the company and has been assured by its board that “the state’s investment is being valued, respected and protected.”

Stating that daily paid workers and WASA’s young engineers were being given greater opportunities to contribute to the company’s development, Abdul-Hamid said: “I am pleased with our progress towards rehabilitation and reform of WASA over the last 13 months.”

He also expressed satisfaction about efforts by WASA’s management to deal with any cases of flagrant indiscipline and make value for money a top priority.