Open letter to letter to Ganga Singh, CEO of the Water and Sewerage Authority: My reason for writing you is that I live in the Petit Valley district and for a few years residents in this area, including myself, have been experiencing severe water problems. The problem eased about a year ago when apparently several new pieces of equipment were brought into the area by your engineers and other officials to ease the situation.
During this time I have come to know one Derek Hooker who I understand is one of the utility's supervisors in west Trinidad. I must tell you that I have never met Hooker. I only speak to him by telephone and it was he who contacted me more than a year ago when I had cause to write to Glason Gurusaransingh (then regional manager, north) about the severe water problem in the Pioneer Drive, Petit Valley, area.
Since then Hooker has been very instrumental and cooperative in assisting in whatever small way possible to help residents who do not have a regular supply in their pipes. I can personally say that Hooker would call at night time or early morning to ascertain if water had come through the taps the previous night or day. Even if residents were not lucky to receive a supply he would take time to explain that the utility is continuing to upgrade.
He would give the undertaking that arrangements were being made to increase the capacity of the pump to push the water. This in itself is a clear example of devotion and dedication to duty and good customer relations which WASA has been aiming to achieve. On behalf of the residents of my community we would like to place on record our sincere appreciation and thanks to Hooker for his good work and good customer relations.
I would also like to say that the utility's vision-to be a high quality utility service provider for the people of T&T and thereafter to be the centre of excellence within the water sector in the Caribbean-is surely one which stands out in the public sector.
R Richards