FORMER public utilities minister Marvin Gonzales has condemned Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath for scrapping a transformational plan for the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), which he said would have saved taxpayers $43 million annually instead of the $30 million figure she mentioned at post-cabinet news conference on May 15.

Gonzales, who is also Arouca/Lopinot MP, described Persad-Bissessar and Padarath’s actions as payback to the Public Services Association (PSA) for being a member of the UNC’s “coalition of interests” in the April 28 general election and maintaining a status quo in WASA which benefits the PSA and not the population.

He made these statements at a news conference at the PNM’s Balisier House headquarters, Port of Spain on May 16.

On May 15, Persad-Bissessar ripped up the plan to applause from government ministers and PSA president Felicia Thomas. Former PSA president (now Labour Minister) Leroy Baptiste was among the ministers who applauded the decision to scrap the plan.

She said the UNC’s plans to restructure WASA will focus on the executive posts in the authority and this will result in annual savings of over $30 million.

Padarath described the WASA management structure as top-heavy with 34 executive positions whose salaries totalled over $74 million.

On Persad-Bissessar’s claim the UNC’s restructuring of WASA would save taxpayers’ $30 million annually, Gonzales said, “Nothing could be further from the truth.

“The previous executive positions that this new structure replaced...which included a CEO, directors, heads, senior managers etc...40 persons compared to 38 persons in this new management.”

The real savings, Gonzales continued, would have come from restructuring lower level managers at WASA from 422 to 246 at another level. “That was where the savings was supposed to be achieved. It was not at the executive level.

“The savings was supposed to be achieved deeper down as you go into the bargaining units where the WASA, executive management and the board had to enter into negotiations and consultations with recognised unions representing WASA (workers).”

The PSA represents the majority of WASA’s workers,

He added the cost savings after the restructuring of these management positions would have been $43 million annually.

“That is what was ripped up yesterday by the honourable prime minister.”

Gonzales said the removal of the 34 executive positions raises an interesting question.

“Who is going to lead the authority?”

Gonzales said Persad-Bissessar has hinted WASA will return to the 2010-2015 management structure it had under her first administration.

He added when the PNM assumed office in September 2015, it found documents which showed WASA had a “management structure that was never approved by cabinet...with salaries that were never approved by the CPO (Chief Personnel Officer).”

Gonzales said if the UNC is reverting to this, “then you are increasing the cost of the management of the authority.”

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