WASA was slated for restructuring under the PNM Government and the work had starte. However the new Kamla Persad Bisser Regime has decided to scrap the plan and made a show of tearing up the document
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The planned restructuring exercise at the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), which was set to see the removal of hundreds of managers and them being replaced by 34 senior persons, has officially been scrapped.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made the announcement at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing at the Red House, Port-of-Spain, where she confirmed Cabinet had rescinded the People’s National Movement (PNM)-administration’s restructuring plan.
In sealing the deal, Persad-Bissessar ripped up the existing transformation policy before her Cabinet colleagues and those on hand.
Persad-Bissessar said, “Today, the Cabinet rescinded the previous cabinet decision of the PNM to brutalise, to demonise and attack WASA workers, WASA management and the mandate of WASA.”
In 2022, former Public Utilities minister Marvin Gonzales announced WASA was reducing its 426 management positions by 50 per cent. He also announced plans for a new executive team—positions that have since been filled.
She also said negotiations with the unions will take place for restructuring of the bargaining units. Persad-Bissessar explained that the move will save the country approximately $30 million annually.
“The WASA’s core function is to increase water production and distribute throughout the country.
Today, we will announce and can announce and have approved that the changes to the management of WASA result in savings of about $30 million annually, at least $30 million annually, and that then we can use to go into critical areas of national development,” the PM said.
She also called on WASA workers to cooperate following her decision.“Today, I ask of you in WASA that you do the right thing. Do your part to make sure that WASA fulfils its mandate to deliver water
You know they say one hand doesn’t clap. We need two. One hand doesn’t clap. But you know what? One hand can slap. So, let’s put the two together and clap. Let’s work together.
I call on the WASA workers, as we give you what you wanted, this is what you asked for. “We have honoured our promise and we ask you now, let’s put all our hands together, all hands on the wheel, and deliver water for all.
”Reassuring WASA workers that there will be no mass job cuts, Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath further explained that Cabinet’s decision only affects 34 top senior managers—not including WASA CEO Keithroy Halliday, an attempt to relieve the “top-heavy layers” at WASA, according to him.
Padarath said the new management structure will include a CEO, so Halliday’s job is safe for now. Halliday was only appointed in December last year.
Padarath said, “The decision of the Cabinet today only affects 34 positions of top senior managers that was brought in under the transformation process.
So, you’re looking at top senior managers with salaries ballooning over $100,000 with perks. It’s a top-heavy layer of executive managers that would have been brought in under Minister Gonzales.
“Many of those 34 were in substantive positions before and then came on to contractual arrangements. So, therefore, there will be a variation in terms of whether or not who among those 34 will go back to substantive positions.
But, there will be no mass of employees going home at WASA.
Actually, what the Prime Minister has done today is secure the jobs of over 5,000 WASA workers that were in limbo because of that fear of the transformation process and the plan that was on its way to the RIC (Regulated Industries Commission) to determine the new water rate.
All of that has been now scrapped.”Padarath said WASA will now have a different approach to its employees.
He added, “One of the areas that we criticise the former administration about is that they did not contemplate alternatives in terms of their management style that they projected and in terms of water production and water delivery.
So, what we want to announce today is that there will be a more people-centred approach, particularly with WASA employees …
We are ensuring that there’s a more structured and a more cohesive management style coming out of WASA, where you have a smaller core team that is able to achieve the mandate, which is water for all.
”He said Government will also be looking at infrastructural projects and alternative management styles.
In the coming weeks, Padarath added that a lot of “scandalous revelations” about spending at WASA will be addressed.
Addressing where the funds will come to pay WASA workers, he said “Cutting out the waste, mismanagement and corruption of the People’s National Movement and put the money in the hands of workers, as opposed to the big boys and big girls who got these cushy jobs in the People’s National Movement.”
Attempts to contact Halliday were unsuccessful yesterday.
Guardian Media also reached out to several senior WASA members.
One of them said the news was not shocking, as WASA workers had faced job uncertainty for years.
“WASA would have gone through emotional trauma and that trauma is uncertainty throughout the years because of changes in government.
WASA is a political football at the end of the day. Each government uses WASA for their own benefit and that’s why WASA is in the place it is in,” the employee, who did not want to be named, said.
“I’m not saying WASA is the best but we can’t make WASA look bad all the time and you dependent on the government for two-thirds of operational costs. The government will have a say, so whatever the government says goes...
The problem with WASA is compliance.”
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Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath met with employees of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) yesterday, some of whom he says were “on the chopping block” under the previous People’s National Movement (PNM) administration.
During a brief visit to WASA’s headquarters, Padarath addressed staff in what he described as a meet-and-greet session.
Speaking with Guardian Media after sharing photos to his social media page, the minister said employees expressed relief and gratitude for the security of their jobs under the current Government.
He assured that more details will be revealed during tomorrow’s post-Cabinet media briefing.
Padarath's visit came days after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, at a post-Cabinet media briefing, announced that the Government would scrap the planned WASA restructuring programme initiated by the previous People's National Movement regime
The PM said the move was part of cost-cutting measures the Cabinet felt was necessary. Persad-Bissessar said the move was expected to save WASA at least $30 million annually.
Speaking after the PM at the briefing, Padarath had reassured WASA workers that there would be no mass job cuts but explained that the decision would only affect 34 top senior managers.
[...]
"There has been no word from Padarath since on whether that variation process has begun.
However, the announcement caused some unease among workers at the utility.
In 2022, then-public utilities minister Marvin Gonzales announced a significant restructuring of WASA, aiming to reduce its 426 management positions by 50 per cent.
This move was part of a broader strategy to cut operating costs by 25 per cent and enhance the utility’s efficiency.
The decision followed a 2016 Cabinet report that highlighted WASA’s overstaffing, noting that the authority’s management structure was more than double the approved size, with 426 managers instead of the recommended 172. The report also indicated that WASA’s total workforce exceeded 5,000 employees, far surpassing the 3,600 deemed appropriate for its operations.
In July 2022, Gonzales confirmed that the restructuring was underway, with the Human Resource Advisory Committee approving new executive compensation packages.
Subsequently, nine new managers were appointed, including Halliday, a St Kitts and Nevis national, as the new CEO. Following the establishment of the new executive team, the committee planned to advise on the appointment of 34 deputy positions to support the leadership.
Before the planned restructuring, WASA’s organisational structure comprised 12 executives overseen by the board of commissioners and the CEO. However, the hierarchy was said to be complex with overlapping reporting lines.
CITATION: KAY-MARIE FLETCHER | Dareece Polo TT Guardian
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