Citizens lacking the basic necessity — water

THE EDITOR: Reference is made to the “Budget Statement 2004” as a preamble to the actual allocations for the fiscal year. The Minister reminded us that, “The Government has already articulated a bold new vision for Trinidad and Tobago” and vaunted the PNM’s People’s Charter of 1956, and the “Chaguanas Declaration” of 1970. He contended, “Today, all our experiences have been honed into ‘Vision 2020’ as we focus our population on the objective to transform Trinidad and Tobago into a first world nation.”

The first phase of governments’s plan addresses the specific issues of educational health, housing, social services delivery, strong and cohesive communities, unity in diversity, and safe streets. These are unquestionably imperatives that arrest everyone’s attention. However, what about one of the most basic necessities that continues to be treated as merely tangential to the country’s well being? I am speaking of water. When the Government reviewed its 2003 performance, the subject of water supply was broached under the heading of “Physical Infrastructure.” The Minister claimed, “we improved the water supply for thousands of consumers with over one hundred and thirty-two projects completed.” This statement conveys no significant information because it does not explain the magnitude of the projects, suggesting they were minor; neither did he say how much money was spent. Politicians do not boast of things that do not draw applause. Were the consumers referred to domestic or commercial? Were the programmes concentrated in urban or rural areas? He might as well have said “they were very, very, very big” and leave it to conjecture. What people should have been told is the number of new households given access to pipe-borne water or improved service as everyone could judge what progress was made.

Under the 2004 Budget, section VI Priorities for Trinidad and Tobago made no mention of Physical Infrastructure but in a preceding paragraph captioned “Infrastructure” the Minister assured: “Mr Speaker, an important factor impacting the economy and the quality of life in Trinidad and Tobago is the state of the country’s infrastructure.” He spoke of highways, drainage, sea transportation and the restoration of public buildings. There was a promise to begin construction of the Mamoral Dam and Reservoir Project to alleviate flooding but nary a word of providing to the taxpayers much needed water, whether it is coloured brown, a hue allegedly acceptable to WASA. Why should water be considered a priority when the powers that be have their fill? In some urban areas, weeks go by before there is sufficient water pressure to allow the taxpayer to take a shower. For those without overhead storage tanks, it is a way of life to bathe using pails of water and dippers.

In rural areas the only way for some people to get water is to look to the high heavens and pray. As for truck-borne water delivery, if my information is correct, there are those who are fortunate to receive a supply once per week but it is rumoured that some residents have to bribe the dispatchers to get their just due. In spite of this, the government seems to perceive the people without water as nuisances who are getting in the way “of the objective to transform Trinidad and Tobago into a first world nation.” Therefore, damned the have-nots, onward to 2020! I do not think it is necessary to belabour the point because the people who cannot take showers, bathe their children, flush their toilets, wash their clothes or even afford the luxury of a clean glass of water for drinking know what I am talking about. In all probability, the Prime Minister and his ministers will dismiss my observations as the musings of a non-entity, proving that it is not easy to escape the vacuum of a third world philosophy.

SELWYN P NIMBLETT
Brooklyn, NY