Tobago will continue to see additional improvements to its water supply, says Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales.

On Tuesday, Gonzales gave updates as he addressed the launch of the online services for new connections at the T&TEC Tobago Sports Club in Scarborough.

He said over the last six months, the Shirvan, Cut Hill and French Fort Booster stations have been completed, adding that these projects were implemented under the ministry’s Community Water Improvement Programme, “comprising very impactful, relatively small capital-investment projects funded under the PSIP and...intended to address delivery shortfalls in the supply of pipe-borne water to communities in receipt of the level of service of 24/3 and less. And in some cases...communities not in receipt of our water supply, period.”

He said the programme is being undertaken through a strategic partnership between the his ministry and the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA).

“Shirvan, Cut Hill and French Fort Booster stations will immediately improve and stabilise the water supply to over 29,000 residents in the Crown Point, Sea View Trace and French Fort areas.”

The work, he said, does not end there.

“Plans are under way to construct two booster stations at James Street in Goodwood and another booster station at Hope Trace – these would provide approximately 270 residents with an improved and extended water supply – and the Les Coteaux main extension, which involves the installation of 250 metres of pipeline to replace the existing long service connections along Mason Hall/ Les Coteaux Road, will improve the level of service to at least 60 residents.”

Mentioning last month's Tobago carnival, he said many people were surprised there were no cries from hoteliers and businessmen in the Crown Point area about water shortages.

The reason, he said, was a booster constructed near Shirvan Road.

"In the community water improvement programme, we normally would look at areas that complain a lot for water, for one reason or another.

"We were advised as to why we were having problems at that end point. We decided that we were going to put a booster station that would boost the supply from Courland into that particular area, and I instructed that this station should be completed in time for the Carnival season.”

When 80,000 people travel from Trinidad to Tobago, he pointed out, there will be an increased demand for water.

"So when everybody was having a good time and enjoying themselves in Tobago, I was on the phone getting real-time updates on what was taking place."

He said proudly that despite a massive event such as Tobago’s first carnival, "I had no complaints about water in this particular area.”

He said he contacted MPs for Tobago West Shamfa Cudjoe and Tobago East Ayanna Webster-Roy to find out if they had received any reports of water shortages during that period and they said no.

Contacted on Wednesday, vice chairman of the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association Carol-Ann Birchwood-James said the association received no