Outgoing acting CEO: WASA needs new mindset

OUTGOING acting WASA CEO Kelvin Romain said while WASA’s restructuring is well under way, it still has a long way to go to reach its target of self-sustenance and improving its ability to satisfy consumers with better service. He said to reach its goals, the company would need a new mindset.

“For there to be a major change in WASA, there definitely needs to be a new outlook on the way we do things,” he told Newsday on June 19.

“One of the shortcomings is efficiency. We definitely need to work on efficiency. When you look at the operational aspect of management and the operations of WASA and the production facilities, efficiency is key.”

Romain, who is among a list of WASA executives expected to be replaced over the next few weeks, told Newsday t the position of CEO had been advertised, and he applied for the job while acting as CEO, but was not selected.

“I was informed that there was a successful candidate for the CEO’s position.

“It was felt by the powers that be or my principals that they needed someone who has some experience in the field of turning around water utilities.”

“I still believe, though, that the situation in Trinidad and Tobago is a bit unique from even other utilities in the Caribbean and internationally.”

In earlier reports, Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales said the ministry is focusing on the leadership structure because reports indicated the corporate structure was too large and impeding WASA’s progress.

A total of nine new managers are expected to take up positions.

Romain said the new organisational structure will have executives managing the five districts across Trinidad and Tobago to which WASA provides service. The executive structure would not resemble the current structure, meaning more people could be replaced.

“I expect some executives to fall into the new structure, and some may not.”

He said there could be a learning curve for the incoming CEO, given that WASA’s main shareholder is the Government.

“The finances come from them; they are dependent on finances from the Government. So the Government will obviously have great say in the operations of WASA. I’m not too sure how the arrangement will be.”

Romain, whose speciality field is non-revenue water management, said in his two-year tenure, his team focused on stabilising the water supply to unserviced and underserviced areas. He said under his leadership, WASA considered the zones where there was either no service or very little and worked towards increasing the level.

“Over a period of time, I would have seen a lot of communities being touched in terms of improving the service,” he said.