Jun 2010 Financial News

New boards soon for WASA, TTEC, TSTT

Jun 17, 2010

PUBLIC Utilities Minister Emmanuel George yesterday said the establishment of new boards for the various utilities is a work in progress. George said he is currently focussing on the boards of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), TT Electricity Commission (TTEC) and the Telecommunications Services of TT (TSTT).

“I am currently considering people for these boards and working on them so they can be set up by mid-July,” he said, adding that boards for the other utilities including TTPOST, Regulated Industries Commission (RIC) and the Solid Waste Management Company Limited (SWMCOL), will be established later on. “I doubt I would be able to do it by next month along with the others. I just need some quiet time to sit down and plan what I am doing with those other boards,” he said.

In November 2008, then Public Utilities minister, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid announced a proposal to enter into a power purchase agreement with Trinidad Generation Unlimited (TGU). George revealed that these plans are afoot.

“TTEC has been planning to get some additional power as there has been an increase in demand. It would come from Trinidad Generation Unlimited (TGU) which would supply power to TTEC by December,” he said.

In May 2009, Abdul-Hamid announced that SWMCOL was to be merged with a new entity created by WASA.

The company would then be wholly committed to waste water development in the country.

When asked the status of that project George said, “I have not sunk my feet in waste water as yet, I am still thinking about what we are going to do in that area.”

He revealed that he would be meeting today with the head of waste water management at WASA, Errol Grimes, to have discussions on the issue.

George commented on the restructuring of WASA saying that when a new board comes in, it would be up to them whether or not the current structure remains or whether there is need for improvement.


Source:
Darcel Choy
Newsday
Thursday June 17, 2010

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,122581.html