Woman sues WASA for $284,835

SITA WEBB has sued the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) for $284,835 following the near collapse of her house at Diamond Village, San Fernando. Webb, 50, is accusing WASA of negligence as a result of a pipeline left unrepaired for four years, which caused water to seep into her yard and destroy her home. Incidentally, Webb has until next Wednesday to vacate her two-bedroom concrete house by order of the Public Health Authority of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation which has deemed the house too dangerous for occupation. The house began cracking in 1999 when a leaking main seeped water under the structure. The land became water-logged and the pillars gave way. Last year, the front of the house collapsed. The tiled floor split when the back pillars tilted, leaving several large gaping cracks and holes. In a writ for negligence filed in the Sub-Registry, San Fernando, Webb, a mother of two, is claiming compensation for the entire house, including fixtures and fittings. Webb said the burst water main sent volumes of water beneath her house and there was land movement resulting in the house cracking. It is on the verge of collapse, the statement of claim added.

Webb’s attorney, Imran Khan of the law firm Girwar and Deonarine, is contending that WASA acted negligently by failing to repair the pipeline to prevent extensive water seepage. Webb said she wrote letters to several WASA managers but to no avail. She also cited the Public Health Notice served on her on June 6, ordering her eviction within 21 days. Webb said WASA has offered her compensation in the sum of $25,000. In a letter outlining the offer, the authority stated that payment of the sum was not an acceptance of liability. Under particulars of special damages as outlined in the writ, Webb is claiming cost of building including VAT ($281,800); cost of quantity surveyors ($1,035); professional engineering services ($2,000). Webb’s total claim amounts to $284,835.