Dumas calls for national waste water facility

PUBLIC Utilities Minister Rennie Dumas yesterday underscored the need for a national waste water system as raw effluent flowed out of clogged sewer pumping stations and into roadways at a major South housing development.

He was speaking to reporters during a tour of the Palmiste Housing Development yesterday morning. Dumas was accompanied by San Fernando West MP Diane Seukeran and concerned residents from the area. “We have had numerous complaints about the waste water system here in Palmiste and we have come to see for ourselves what it is and see to what extent we can integrate it into the planned national response for waste water management in the country,” he said.

He referred to Government’s construction of a waste water treatment plant at the Beetham Estate, saying similar systems may also be necessary in other parts of the country. However, he lamented that a number of plants built by private developers had “fallen into disarray” and Government was looking at ways of rehabilitating those systems. Dumas declined comment on whether penalities would be imposed on private developers who had allowed their waste water facilities to deteriorate.

As to the waste flowing onto the roads and fields at Palmiste, Dumas said the response would involve action by Government and homeowners. A WASA engineer who accompanied the Minister said the facility had not functioned for a “number of years”. The engineer said several million dollars may have to be spent to get the facility back in top working condition. Principal of the Cedar Grove Private School Phiscilla Jute said students were affected by the smell of the waste water on a daily basis. She said in her six years at the school, Minister Dumas was the only Government official to visit the housing development.