Gonzales: Greater efficiency needed at public utilities

PUBLIC Utilties Minister Marvin Gonzales underscored the need for the entities under his charge to demonstrate greater efficiency in the delivery of their respective services to the population. Gonzales made this point before the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives approved a $1,944,382, 285 allocation to his ministry on Monday.

Owing to the covid19 pandemic, Gonzales said, "Access to a reliable water supply, electricity, sanitation and telecommunications services in our homes and economic spaces, is now an acute necessity to sustain lives and livelihoods as we transition to the new normal and the economy is set on a path to recovery."

After noting the ministry's budgetary allocation was approximately 31 per cent less than its 2019 allocation, Gonzales observed, "The cost to an organisation on inefficiency and mismanagement is extremely high."

Against that background, he declared, "It is absolutely imperative that our utilities strive to eliminate all inefficiencies and perform at much higher level of operational efficiency." Gonzales added, "Strategic action must be taken to maximise existing resources and achieve greater cost effectiveness."

Responding to questions from Opposition MPs, Gonzales said no decision had been taken as yet regarding any restructuring at the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA). He reminded them that it was public knowledge that he was chairing a committee that was reviewing WASA's operations and the Prime Minister had instructed that committee to report back to Cabinet by November 30.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert supported Gonzales. "One way or the other, we have to reduce the annual subvention to WASA because the country cannot afford it. So there is no point in putting $2 billion inside of there."

In his budget presentation in the House on October 5, Imbert said the committee that Gonzales chairs would submit a report with recommendations "with respect to the levels of investments adequate to the needs of an efficient water supply."

He said tariff reviews would be considered for WASA and the TT Electricity Commission (TT&EC).

House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George had to remind Opposition MPs about being alert, after several of them repeated similar questions to Gonzales during the meeting. Annisette-George told them that while she was not in the chamber for part of the meeting, which was chaired by Deputy Speaker Esmond Forde, she followed the proceedings on television and knew many of the Opposition's questions were repetitive.

Reminding all MPs of the five-day time period within which the committee must finish its work, Annisette-George advised them to be more aware of what was happening in the meeting.