Thursday, August 27 2009

PUBLIC UTILITIES Minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid yesterday said he will make a comprehensive statement in Parliament next month about Government’s plans to develop the country’s water and waste-water sectors.

The minister made this disclosure when he addressed the launch of the Water and Sewerage Authority’s (WASA) governance manual and e-voice system at the Hilton Trinidad.

Reiterating Government’s concerns that the wastewater sector has been underdeveloped since WASA’s inception in 1965 while the water sector has improved, Abdul- Hamid said: “There should be two companies, dedicated and focused on the respective programmes for each sector.”

“Each sector will require considerable investment for the necessary development to which the government is committed,” he added. The minister said he should make this statement about two weeks after Parliament resumes, pending the presentation of the 2010 Budget by Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira.

Speaking afterwards, Abdul-Hamid was “very optimistic” that his ministry will receive a healthy slice of the budget in order to carry out its initiatives in the new fiscal year.

“The Ministry of Public Utilities generally speaking is responsible for a significant slice of out national infrastructure,” Abdul-Hamid said.