Fix WASA before imposing restrictions: Panday

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday called on Public Utilities Minister Mutaspha Abdul-Hamid Tuesday to fix problems at the state-owned Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) before imposing sanctions on the citizenry.

Panday was responding to reports that WASA plans to impose restrictions on water usage starting Wednesday. The plan includes curbs on washing vehicles and watering lawns as well as a system of redistribution of water in the country.

WASA says the restrictions are necessary to deal with water shortages caused by an unusually dry rainy season in 2009 and continuing dry weather so far this year.

Read the story: Water rationing comes to T&T as dry spell continues

In a media release Tuesday the Couva North MP said the PNM’s vision 2020 document admits that 70 per cent of the nation suffer from water shortages and that 50 per cent of the water supplied is lost as a result of leaks in the distribution system.

“Almost eight years after PNM rule, the maladministration of WASA has gotten from bad to worse and two years ago the company threatened to increase the rate of water to an already under supplied nation!

"One would think that in its vociferous mode to build mansions, big buildings and waterfronts, this government would actually try to get its act together and supply the country with this very basic necessity," Panday said.

The former prime minister said, "Before we even begin to “crackdown” on the population WASA needs to ensure that its infrastructure is effective. If it weren’t for such a corrupt system at the state-owned water company, the nation would not be experiencing this crisis in the first place."

He added, “Our people are being asked to make sacrifices owing to the inefficiency of the Water and Sewerage Authority. The citizenry is not optimistic that there will be any relief in the situation.

"In fact, all indications are that things will get worse. Long term planning would have dealt with the current shortages, but we are being lead by an incompetent government.”

Panday wants to know what system WASA would use to monitor the misuse of water, when it has been the number one culprit of water wastage.