Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales says there is evidence of political discrimination when it comes to water in TT that can cause people to shiver.
“You have been a victim of corruption at the highest level,” Gonzales told residents of Morne Diablo in Penal.
He spoke at the commissioning ceremony for the Morne Diablo water supply improvement project on April 13 at the Morne Diablo Recreation Ground at Scotts Road.
Gonzales recalled telling the Prime Minister about making this intervention.
In response, he said Dr Keith Rowley told him that upon completion, he should make sure there were police to guard the valves because the contractors might interfere with the valves to ensure that the illegal water-trucking continues.
“You have a responsibility to guard the Government’s investment in your community,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales also apologised to the affected residents, telling them they have been the victims of a water trucking racket for over 20 years.
He said many people in the political sphere were part of it.
Many residents were victims of irregular water supply. Some never had a supply.
The minister said contractors were stealing water from the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) and selling it to residents. The matter is being investigated by WASA and the police, he added.
Gonzales said he often questioned how this well-oiled criminal enterprise took place, and no intervention was made. He said it happened right under the noses of their representatives, including their MPs and councillors.
He added, “How could this have taken place under the noses of the leadership of the WASA, which was responsible for ensuring that you had a sufficient water supply? To me, that is the perfect example of leaders and public officials turning away from their oath of office to the people of TT.”
“I think it is incumbent on me in my capacity as the Minister of Public Utilities and an MP, to sincerely apologise to you for the desecration that you would have endured over the last 20 years.”
The $2.74 million project saw 2,359 meters (2.3 kilometres) of six-inch transmission line installed from Scotts Road Well Number Five and along the Penal Rock Road and Quarry Road.
The project was completed in 16 days, and water flowed into people’s taps days later.
He said over 90 percent of the community has started to receive a water supply.
From what he was told, drilling additional wells would be required to bring further water into production so that we can supply the areas that have yet to receive regular supply.
Gonzales recalled that when the project started, the contractor and even a journalist were threatened for intervening.
“That is the audacity of corrupt people in TT. The reason why they have survived for over two decades is because they have friends who operate at high levels of socety."
“They (contractors) are people from your community who decided to tap into the wells, take all the water, store it in large reservoirs, prevent the water from coming higher up and sell you the water.
