SHARLENE RAMPERSAD
All Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) pumps affected by run-off from heavy rains over the last two days are supposed to be up and running on Friday, Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales said yesterday.
Speaking during yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Gonzales said surface run-off had affected 28 water treatment plants and impacted the supply to about 200,000 people.
He said, “Over the last two days, WASA was mainly affected by the adverse weather conditions that occurred, especially in north Trinidad and those water treatment facilities would have been facilities that rely on surface water sources as their main source of water.”
Gonzales said WASA employees worked through the night on Wednesday to ensure the pumps were repaired.
“As of 11 am today (Thursday), 54 per cent of the water treatment facilities have all been back into operation, that is 15 out of the 28 water treatment plants, have been brought back fully into operation. I’m advised that around 6 pm this afternoon, all of the water treatment plants will be operational with the exception of two plants at Matura and Tompire,” he added.
However, the Matura and Tompire plants were not expected to be repaired until midnight, as Gonzales said adverse weather affecting those areas would slow down remedial works.
Gonzales was part of an inter-ministerial team reporting to the public during the news conference.
The team, which included Rural Development Minister Faris Al- Rawi and Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan, was put together as the country faced the possibility of being hit by a potential tropical cyclone.
Al-Rawi said his ministry, all 14 regional corporations and associated State agencies remain on “red alert” ahead of inclement weather forecast for today.
“With the inclement weather… we are still continuing to work in full cooperation, we are continuing our survey and clean exercises,” Al-Rawi said.
He said since those exercises began, 2,900 truckloads of rubbish, which was 16 times taller than the Twin Towers were collected.
Acting Prime Minister Colm Imbert was asked how he felt the inter-ministerial team performed over the past several days.
“Self assessment is not always the best form of assessment, but I think it went very well. I want to compliment the team, I am very proud of them. I think the Government rose to the occasion and everybody pulled their weight. We got a united, committed, vibrant team of ministers and I think this is a blueprint for the future,” Imbert said.
Asked if the inter-ministerial team will be kept operational for the rest of the rainy season, Imbert said the question would be better posed to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
Rowley was expected to return to the country around midnight from the US, where he was receiving medical treatment for the past several weeks.