|
|
 |
A COP Government against the Dry Well, and World Water Day 2K10 | | | Author: COP Youth Congress | | Date: 2010-03-23 00:00:00 |
| Whilst it’s my pleasure to pen these few thoughts for your reading on the occasion of World Water Day, it is extremely ironic that we in Trinidad and Tobago are observing World Water Day 2010 in the dead middle of a drought.
This irony is overwhelming, considering that we have been affected by this drought since the beginning of this year, and that it has been projected to continue for months to come.
Let us never underestimate the importance of this valuable commodity; for indeed, it is now that the proverb becomes literal; ‘ you never miss the water until the well runs dry’. Indeed, just as the Ganges is revered as holy, and as the Nile is revered as the source of all life, so too must we in Trinidad and Tobago, government and citizen, begin to value the life sustaining entity that is water.
But even before this drought, our country has had some critical problems where the conservation and delivery of water is concerned. In this age where the current PNM government have leapt forward and ‘catspraddled’ in their frenzied chase after a non-existent Vision 2020, thousands upon thousands of our citizens still do not have a pipe-borne supply of water.
Thousands still have no supply at all.
In the face of the ongoing drought, WASA itself admitted that they had a 50 per cent leakage rate. Simply put, this means that the nation’s water delivery plan is so substandard and worn out, that half of the water issued from our nation’s reservoirs does not reach the taps at our homes. This gross inefficiency went unabated by the authorities for the past year, aggravated by continuous neglect, improper management, and the lack of political will to deliver water to all the people of this nation.
The COP has renewed its commitment to defend and improve the quality of life for the man on the street.
- A COP government will work assiduously to ensure that every single son and daughter of our Trinbagonian soil can enjoy a reliable, pipe-borne supply of water.
- To prepare our Trinbago to face the global threats posed to us by climate change, a COP government will ensure that every primary and secondary student is properly educated on water conservation and environmental management, so that they themselves can play an active part in securing their world.
- A COP government will halt the centralization of power that the Manning government wants to effect on the Local Government Corporations. The Regional Corporations are already challenged in executing their mandate, and Mr. Manning’s rash grasp for more power through the Local government bodies could greatly threaten the people’s access to community services such as the clearing of community waterways, rivers, drains and canals; the reporting of leaks, and delivery of a reliable water supply to communities. Instead, the COP will analyze the efficiency of every regional corporation, and provide the processes and tools that are needed to ensure that the regional corporations can execute its mandate where the management of community waterways and the supply of water is concerned.
- We have noted, with great disappointment, the contamination of pipe-borne water in areas such as Arima. The COP believes that contaminated water should be a thing of the past. There must be cleaner rivers for farmers in Caroni and humane, clean drainage for the residents at Beetham Gardens. We will work towards a consistent water supply from Princes Town to Scarborough, from Cunupia to Carenage, from Laventille to La Horquetta, and all in between.
Indeed, the ongoing drought has brought into the spotlight the attitude of the government and the private sector, but citizens, too have their role to play in water conservation. Those who litter our waterways with refuse commit a grave injustice to their own families, as in the end, the effect is cyclical.. There is no doubt that the years of ignoring this crisis have finally caught up with us.
We all have our parts to play. Under a COP government, immediate attention would be paid to developing our infrastructure so that this essential commodity can be shared by every Trinbagonian. There wouldn’t be water just for Patrick, nor water just for Calder Hart, nor water for just some constituencies, some areas and some races, but, indeed, there should be water, sweet water, for all in our twin island nation.
Kieron Samaroo.
Chairman,
COP YOUth Congress. | User Comments |   |
|
|
Home 
Home
About
Contact
Donate