As he laid a report into the operations at WASA in the Parliament this afternoon, Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales lamented that a mere 34% of the country currently receives a 24/7 supply of water.

“On any given day, there are numerous complaints about lack of water from residents in communities throughout the country. Published schedules are routinely discarded without prior notice mainly because of system failures, and generally with no apology from the Authority. Leak repair is reactive, and like road restoration works, is subjected to inordinate delays,” the Minister told the House.  

In addition, the company racked up debt to the tune of $1.6 billion, including $700 million owed to contractors and suppliers.

It is for these among other reasons government has undertaken to have a restructuring exercise at the Authority, under the headship of new Executive Director Dr. Lennox Sealey. 

The report will go before a Joint Select Committee of Parliament for further review.