BECKLES: $1.2B FOR WATER

This year alone, $433 million will be spent on developing local water sources, expanding the distribution system, reducing leaks along the distribution system, replacing old, damaged and corroded pipelines and institutional strengthening of the Water and Sewerge Authority.

Beckles was speaking at the launch of the Water Institute of Trinidad and Tobago yesterday.

She also told her listeners that the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is in the process of developing a comprehensive water and waste water master plan for Trinidad and Tobago.

This plan, she explained is to guide the necessary infrastructure improvements to achieve the Vision 2020 service level requirements. Beckles also made mention of another key initiative — the National Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Programme. This programme will rehabilitate oveer 33,000 acres of forests over a ten-year period. The project, said Beckles, is critical for ensuring that both ground and surface water sources, particularly in the Northern Range, are protected.

The revision of the National Environment Policy, which is to be laid in Parliament shortly, will also allow the country to enhance the legislative framework to ensure the wise use of water resources. Beckles said she hoped that the Water Institute, through its graduates, will be that critical element for attaining water security, and by extension, sustainable and responsible social and economic growth, for Trinidad and Tobago.

In his short contribution, the Chief Executive Officer of WASA, Errol Grimes made it clear that water should be conserved at all times. “Each generation must ensure that the abundance and quality of water is not diminished, as a result of its activities,” he said.