WASA’s newly installed CEO resigns
Wednesday 28th July, 2010

In a move that's shocked and surprised many, WASA’s CEO Andrew Smith resignation comes exactly four and a half months after the resignation of acting CEO, Jim Lee Young.

The British born Mr Smith was appointed under the PNM administration in April. Mr Young was appointed on January 4th this year and acted for 3 months in the role.

The Minister of Public Utilities has appointed former UNC Minster Ganga Singh to the position of acting CEO.

Internally, Minister George revealed a one year plan to supply water to the population for two days a week, all day, without affecting the regular supply received by other customers in the country.

It's part of major long term improvements which will involve servicing reservoirs and upgrading treatment plants.
Singling out the South East and West as major hotspots for water supply, WASA plans to utilise surface water, and underground aquifers and the reservoirs to achieve their objective.

That will also involve using mobile desalination units being placed in Erin, Mayaro, and possibly Tobago, and water treatment plants in La Fortune, Penal, Talparo, Fyzabad and Matura.

Minister George has promised to correct WASA's problems within the first 12 months of his tenure.

One immediate issue is the co-ordination of road works by the Ministry of Works with WASA's pipe laying, road digging programme.

Mr Emmanuel's pressing act though is to work with a newly appointed board who will then select and appoint a full time CEO drawn from applications received from both Trinidad, Tobago and abroad.