The new, seven-member executive team at the Water and Sewerage Authority is expected to receive their letters of appointment, today, Monday 12 July 2021.
The Authority issued an official statement this morning, noting that a new, interim Executive Management Team has been appointed, with effect from today.
“The Water and Sewerage Authority wishes to advise the members of the public that the Board of Commissioners met and took a decision to appoint a new interim Executive Management Team. This change takes effect from 12th July, 2021 and is in keeping with the Board’s strategic vision for the Authority,” the statement read.
It added: “The Board is resolute in its quest to improve the level of service that is currently being provided and continues to examine the operations of the Authority and take the necessary decisions in order to improve these operations so as to strive to achieve its mandate.”
The Trinidad and Tobago Guardian had reported on Saturday July 10th, that the entire executive team operating under Dr Lennox Sealy had been removed, following Dr Sealy’s resignation, last week. Line minister for WASA, Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzalves MP, did not offer any comment on the shakeup, when Guardian Media made contact with him on Saturday.
The new directors are all employees at WASA. Their predecessors, also WASA employees, are expected to return to their substantive posts prior to their elevation to the executive management team.
The Guardian’s report on Saturday revealed that the decision to remove the team was taken on Friday during an emergency meeting by WASA’s newly appointed chairman Ravindra Nanga and his directors, following Thursday’s resignation of Sealy who cited “personal circumstances” for his sudden departure. Sealy had met with Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales who informed him that the Government was disappointed and dissatisfied with the slow pace of WASA’s transformation exercise.
Together with chairman Nanga, the new executive team is expected to begin working immediately on the transformation and restructuring of WASA, which is said to be three months behind schedule.
In two months’ time, they must submit a plan and report to Minister Gonzales on charting a new way forward for WASA.
Guardian Media understands the new executive management team will be led by Sherland Sheppard, a former director of operations for several years, who was removed from that post about three months ago to work alongside Sealy. The team comprises five other directors—Shaira Ali, operations director; Giselle Spence, finance director; Ronnie Spencer, HR director; Natasha Andrews, corporate business services; and Winston Drakes corporate services.