New Public Utilities Minister: Unreliable water supply in 2020 unacceptable

NEW Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales said it is unacceptable in 2020 to have communities without a regular water supply.

He was speaking with the media on Wednesday after being sworn in by the President at President's House.

Asked what were his priorities, Gonzales said as he campaigned in Lopinot/Bon Air West and spoke to MPs in the surrounding areas of Arima, La Horquetta/Talparo, Arouca and Tunapuna, there was the similar issue of water supply.

"Water is a very serious issue in TT. As a citizen I cannot accept in 2020 we have communities without a reliable and sustainable water supply for three, four and five years."

He said in his own constituency of Lopinot/Bon Air West there were people without a reliable supply for years. He stressed he is not going into the ministry thinking that he knows it all, but he will find out what are the concerns with the Water and Sewerage Authority and he will move aggressively to address those concerns.

"It is only decent and it is only right."

New Housing and Urban Development Minister Pennelope Beckles was asked about the 200,000 outstanding applications for homes and she said as she campaigned in Arima, she received complaints about the housing lottery system. She said the current process where people have reported waiting 20 or 30 years to be allocated was not functioning and she would be analysing the issue.

"People will have a reasonable and good chance to qualify for a home."

She said of the 200,000, many were single mothers and the issue has to be looked at in terms of people who are in need. She also said she will be looking to address situations of people "renting out" their Housing Development Corporation homes and there must be monitoring in place to stop these incidents.

New Minister of Labour Stephen McClashie told the media covid19 will dictate a lot of terms of conditions of employment. He also said there will be some difficult trade negotiations.

He said over the next few years he will be focusing on the development of small and medium enterprises.

"We have to encourage, develop and create the impetus and resources for young budding entrepreneurs."

He added this focus can assist people who lost their jobs during the pandemic.

New Minister in the Finance Ministry Brian Manning said the last government was about stabilising the economy and now there is a focus on jobs and diversification.

"It is a critical stage."

On the upcoming budget, he said a lot of preparation work would have been done and he would see what part he could play in the process.

"I will get straight to work."

Manning, son of late former prime minister Patrick Manning, was asked about continuing his father's legacy but he replied it was not really about a legacy but about getting the work done.