Padarath stands by scrapping of PNM WASA plan

PUBLIC Utilities Minister Barry Padarath has rejected his predecessor Marvin Gonzales’ defence of the PNM Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) transformation plan which Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced has been rescinded by the new UNC government.

At a news conference at the PNM’s Balisier House, Port of Spain, on May 16, Gonzales said the PNM’s plan would have resulted in savings of $43 million at WASA and not the $30 million figure Persad-Bissessar mentioned at a post-cabinet news conference at the Red House on May 15.

At that conference, Persad-Bissessar tore up a copy of the PNM’s plan.

Gonzales also claimed the UNC’s actions were political payback to the Public Services Association (PSA) for its support in the April 28 general election and will reduce WASA’s efficiency.

In a WhatsApp comment on May 16, Padarath rejected Gonzales’ statements. He stood by the statements he and Persad-Bissessar made on May 15.

Padarath said Gonzales “is now attempting to cover up his incompetence and anti-worker agenda.”

He repeated, “While the big sawatees of the PNM fed at the trough of WASA, people in this country were suffering to put food on the table.”

At his briefing, Gonzales said the plans to restructure WASA were directed at the management and not the ordinary workers.

Padarath claimed the PNM intended to fire WASA workers had it won the election.

He said this included 800 monthly, 217 management, 583 supervisory and 1,200 daily paid positions being made redundant at the authority.

Padarath repeated, “The salaries, inflated bonuses and perks of the executives amounted to $70 million annually. The salaries and allowances of the new management structure of WASA is $40 million with a $30 million saving.”

He said, “I think the massive election blow to the PNM might have affected Gonzales’ ability to calculate properly.”

The UNC won 26 seats in the election. The PNM retained 13 and the Tobago People’s Party won the two Tobago seats.

Padarath rejected Gonzales’ statements about corruption at WASA under the former UNC-led People’s Partnership coalition government from May 2010-September 2015.

He served as an adviser in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) at that time.

In addition to being public utilities minister, Padarath is also a Minister in the OPM.

He said,”Gonzales should be the last person to speak about corruption.”

Padarath claimed a contract was issued to a PNM campaign manager in March by a former senior government official.

He claimed Gonzales could recognise the name “when more is divulged in the public’s interest.”

Padarath gave no further details.