fbpx
  • Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • Opinions
  • Features
  • Letters
  • Videos
  • Editorials
  • Columns
ramdath-jagessar

WASA is the vision failure of Dr. Eric Williams and the PNM

March 9, 2021
Kamla Persad Bissessar

IDC CONGRATULATES HON. KAMLA PERSAD BISSESSAR ON TRINIDAD & TOBAGO ELECTIONS VICTORY

May 4, 2025
Dool Hanomansingh

Pakistan has always been a puppet nation

May 3, 2025
Dool Hanomansingh

Never too late for Dinesh to redeem himself!

May 3, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Guyana must seek USA Protection against Venezuela Threat

May 2, 2025
Albert Baldeo

ADRIANNA YOUNGE’S DEATH MANDATES COMPETENT INVESTIGATION & PROSECUTION

May 2, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Condemn Violent Protests in Guyana & Ethnic Attacks: President Ali Praised for agreeing to family’s demands

May 2, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

In Support of Guyana President in Condemning India Terror Attack

May 2, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Brief Profile of Dr. Vishnu Bisram of Guyana

May 2, 2025
UNC Sweeps to Power in Trinidad and Tobago Elections

UNC Sweeps to Power in Trinidad and Tobago Elections

May 1, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Not all rights are expressly stated in a constitution

April 27, 2025
INDO-CARIBBEAN FEDERATION TRIBUTE TO AUNTY EVELYN MORGAN.

INDO-CARIBBEAN FEDERATION TRIBUTE TO AUNTY EVELYN MORGAN.

April 27, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Up for grabs as Nine Marginal seats to decide Government in Trinidad & Tobago

April 27, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Condition
Friday, May 9, 2025
  • Login
Indo Caribbean Diaspora News
  • Home
  • Columns
    Kamla Persad Bissessar

    IDC CONGRATULATES HON. KAMLA PERSAD BISSESSAR ON TRINIDAD & TOBAGO ELECTIONS VICTORY

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Guyana must seek USA Protection against Venezuela Threat

    Albert Baldeo

    ADRIANNA YOUNGE’S DEATH MANDATES COMPETENT INVESTIGATION & PROSECUTION

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Condemn Violent Protests in Guyana & Ethnic Attacks: President Ali Praised for agreeing to family’s demands

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    In Support of Guyana President in Condemning India Terror Attack

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Brief Profile of Dr. Vishnu Bisram of Guyana

    UNC Sweeps to Power in Trinidad and Tobago Elections

    UNC Sweeps to Power in Trinidad and Tobago Elections

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Not all rights are expressly stated in a constitution

    INDO-CARIBBEAN FEDERATION TRIBUTE TO AUNTY EVELYN MORGAN.

    INDO-CARIBBEAN FEDERATION TRIBUTE TO AUNTY EVELYN MORGAN.

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Up for grabs as Nine Marginal seats to decide Government in Trinidad & Tobago

  • Letters
    Guyana Rohee’s mocking of Illegal Guyanese & Green Card Holders in America

    Guyana Rohee’s mocking of Illegal Guyanese & Green Card Holders in America

    Charles Sugrim

    Authenticating Dr Bisram’s Poll in Guyana

    Gary Griffith

    United We Stand, Divided We Fall

    Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

    Democrats More Dangerous to Dragon Gas than Republicans

    Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

    Who Really Lost in the Junior Sammy Matter in Trinidad?

    Jai Lall

    A challenge to become the rainbow in Leonora’s cloud

    Rabindra-Moonan

    The opposition UNC led by Kamla Persad Bissessar has gone into meltdown mode.

    Jai Lall

    Residents of Leonora, Guyana are ashamed and embarrassed

    Kamla Persad Bissessar

    Trinidad & Tobago REPUBLIC DAY MESSAGE 2024 OF LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

    Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

    Crime has reached a high level in Trinidad and Tobago

  • Community News
    Indian-Caribbeans Observe Hanuman Birth Anniversary

    Indian-Caribbeans Observe Hanuman Birth Anniversary

    Ram Navami 2023 Observed

    Indo Caribbean Americans Observed 2025 Ram Naumi or Navami

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Gowtam Maharaj: “Phagwa is much more than gulal and abeer; it is building family love and strong communities.”

    Queens Boro President hosts 2025 Holi (Phagwah) Celebration

    Queens Boro President hosts 2025 Holi (Phagwah) Celebration

    Indian-Caribbean Americans in 2025 Phagwah (Holi) Spirit

    Indian-Caribbean Americans in 2025 Phagwah (Holi) Spirit

    Indo-Caribbeans Spellbound by the Maha Kumbh in India

    Indo-Caribbeans Spellbound by the Maha Kumbh in India

    Indo-Caribbean New Yorkers Observe Shivratri

    Indo-Caribbean New Yorkers Observe Shivratri

    Caribbean Airlines

    Caribbean Airlines Supports ECO Canada’s Day 2 Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference February 17-19, 2025 | Hanover, Jamaica

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Amarjyoth Sabha launches music class for youths

    Swami Sarvalokananda of Delhi

    Swami Sarvalokananda of Delhi, India visited Trinidad and Guyana

  • Editorials
    cliff-rajkumar

    VANISHING FOOTPRINTS

    Kamla Persad Bissessar

    Trinidad and Tobago OPPOSITION LEADER addresses TOWN HALL MEETING ON EDUCATION IN SAN FERNANDO WEST

    Jai Lall

    Guyana Leonora’s villagers are inseparable

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Indo-Caribbean to speak on India’s Soft Power in Delhi

    Jai Lall

    Empty vessels make the most noise – politics in Guyana

    Ashook-Ramsaran

    In Commemoration of the 23rd Anniversary

    Kamla Persad Bissessar

    Hope for UNC of Trinidad?

    Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

    Is there No Other Musical Instrument Indigenous to T&T?

    Guyana-map

    October 2024 Hindu Conference bring back memories of Humiliation of Indians in Guyana

    Jai Lall

    Is Kamala Harris the “Trump” card for the Democrats?

  • Opinions
    Dool Hanomansingh

    Pakistan has always been a puppet nation

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Never too late for Dinesh to redeem himself!

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Bhadase and Sat were successful in so many ways

    Dool Hanomansingh

    The UNC is a Bullet Train Today

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Why is the EU Grant for Ex-Cane Farmers Not Paid?

    Dool Hanomansingh

    PNM hates Poor Black People

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Why whites are fleeing South Africa?

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Crime and the Hindu Community

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Guyana January 2025 poll puts PPP in lead against a struggling opposition with opportunity for new parties

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Citizens must dictate how their tax dollars are spent

  • Videos
    Dool-Hanomansingh-003

    US Congress woman Tulsi Gabbard condemns the ongoing genocide of Hindus and other minorities

    Geeta-Vaahini

    Geeta Vaahini, President of the  Hindu Prachaar Kendra speaks on the social significance of Ganga Dhara Festival.

    Geeta-Vaahini

    Geeta Vaahini, President of the Hindu Prachaar Kendra speaks on the Hindu view of the environment.

    swami-brahmadeo

    Swami Brahmadeo – Hindus are top CEOs and Medics in North America and Europe

    Gowtam-Maharaj

    Gowtam Maharaj, a farmer of Barrackpore, South Trinidad, shares his challenges being a farmer.

    BAMBOO #1 Flooding – Frustrated Residents

    BAMBOO #1 Flooding – Frustrated Residents

    NATIONAL-LOTUS-THEATRE

    NATIONAL LOTUS THEATRE – Performance of Niyantran

    radica-jairam

    Story of RADICA JAIRAM from Orange Valley

    fisherman-trinidad

    Families of Orange Valley felt neglected by PNM Government

    Dr Subramanian Swamy

    Dr Subramanian Swamy – Dharma Rising London April 2015

  • Features
    ravi-ratiram

    Trinidad MP Ravi Ratiram Condemns Government’s Failures Amidst Rising Crime in Central Trinidad and Calls for Immediate Action to Protect Citizens

    Pandit Ramdular Singh

    Pandit Ramdular Singh on Guyana’s Dharmic Sabha

    Vassan Ramracha

    PNM bent on Africanizing Trinidad

    Baldeo_Chanderpaul-3

    West Indian cricketers must strive to emulate Shiv Chanderpaul of Guyana

    Jai Lall

    Who in Guyana will ever buy the PNC/AFC/APNU “honesty, integrity and decency” pitch again?

    cliff-rajkumar

    Non Indians Embracing Sanathan Dharma

    Mr. Rudranath Indarsingh

    INDARSINGH ON RELOCATION OF PRINCES TOWN FIRE OFFICERS

    Vassan Ramracha

    TRIBAL AFRICANS DO NOT CONDONE INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES

    Jai Lall

    Guyana President Ali and Cabinet Ministers Engaged West Coast Supporters

    Dr Jerry Jailall

    PPP Government responds quickly to changing “Negro” on Government forms, will they also add “Indian” to Arrival Day?

No Result
View All Result
Indo Caribbean Diaspora News
No Result
View All Result

WASA is the vision failure of Dr. Eric Williams and the PNM

by Ramdath Jagessar
March 9, 2021
in Opinions
0
ramdath-jagessar
18
SHARES
196
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

An essay on the collapse and coming execution of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) in Trinidad is essentially a dirge, a death song on the vision failure of its creator Dr. Eric Williams. And the failure of the People’s National Movement to this day.

Many other government-funded bodies like WASA exist in the country and share the same creator. Most, if not all, are similarly non performing, subsidy sucking monsters overdue for execution.

How did it come to this for WASA to be hogtied on the butcher table ready to get its throat cut? How is it that the alleged champion historian Dr. Williams never saw this coming?

“Apart from being overstaffed by over 50 per cent, charging among the lowest rates, poor infrastructure, mismanagement, and corruption, the committee found WASA to be inefficient in almost every area of performance,” says a recent newspaper report.

There’s also decades of poor governance and inept management, deeply entrenched deficiencies in all the core aspects of its business, vicious spiral of decline, non-progressive culture that largely ignores customers’ needs, top heavy management, apparently being run by the union rather than the management, enormous overtime bills, lying to the line minister about water supply, half the country cannot get reliable water supply, unacceptable water loss from leaky mains, on and on.

Bap ray, is there anything good about WASA? It seems not. What about its fellows in crime like the civil service? The port authority? The police service? Electricity service? Transport Authority? State enterprises? National Carnival Commission? Judiciary?

Rewind to 1956 when political novice Dr. Williams and his PNM scrape a narrow victory over the veteran politicians like Bhadase Maraj, Albert Gomes, and TUB Butler. His base of black supporters rejoiced their messiah had delivered them from the hands of the white colonial massa and claimed their reward.

Williams felt his black base deserved what had been denied them so long. Good permanent jobs, lifetime security which couldn’t be taken away by the nasty white man, and all that went with such jobs and security. He decided to give it to them.

Williams threw out the white English from the government funded bodies as fast as he could and handed the plum jobs to his base whether they were qualified or not, whether they could do the job or not. First mistake.

He was concerned about some later government taking away the gains he had handed to his black people, so he set about rigging the political system so his PNM would keep political power permanently. Second mistake.

All black people had to do for Dr. Williams in return was to keep voting PNM to keep their jobs and their benefits. They didn’t have to perform on the job, they didn’t really have to be efficient or to give a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay. All they had to do was vote PNM and they would be set for life. Third mistake.

Somehow Dr. Williams forgot or didn’t care that black people were a minority of less than 40% of the population. There were other people in Trinidad, like the Indians who were even larger than the blacks and no less deprived of opportunity and advancement. But to Williams the Indians were the enemy who didn’t deserve to get any of the government milk. Fourth major mistake.

Williams had no national vision at all. In no sense was he a national leader. His vision was all for black people. Indians in his eyes were irrelevant and disposable. Fifth catastrophic mistake.

How could an Oxford educated historian have been so stupid? A head of government should at least pretend to govern for the whole country.

And so Williams and his PNM hired as many of the black population as income would allow, by my count about three quarters of the black working age people. He allowed them to cut up the jobs so as many of the boys and girls could get a salary, told them they didn’t really have to perform on the job, they couldn’t be fired or retrenched, just put your X near the PNM balisier symbol on election day and all will be fine.

To handle the all important water supply, the PNM merged the old efficient Central Water Distribution Authority and several other bodies that treated water and sewage into WASA in 1965. They filled it up with hundreds and thousands of the gang and it’s been all downhill ever since.

I’ve been told that maybe 20% of the WASA workers actually tried to give a fair day’s work for a very fair day’s pay. That is about the number of Indians who were able to get these prized jobs in WASA! But even some of the Indians went with the “less work more pay” philosophy of the time. A business where 80% of the staff is non performing is a slow motion train wreck.

In a similar fashion Dr. Williams and the PNM filled up the civil service, police service, army, utilities, state enterprises with the same gang and same conditions, and yes it’s been all downhill for them too. Is any government funded entity in Trinidad either efficient or profitable? Somebody surprise me. Why work hard if there is no penalty for failing to do so?

Would Dr. Williams have approved of the WASA of today if he were alive? I think he wanted something better for his black people than to be a pack of lazy slackers drawing good pay for poor work or no work.

WASA is a national disgrace and the whole thing has to be thrown on the scrap heap, the 20% passable workers and the 80% idlers together. Who could separate the sheep from the goats, the clueless top heavy management?

The replacement company would be mad to hire a single one of the 5,000 workers or to entertain that lunatic trade union. They may have to start with a new slate of workers, a very small slate, and contract out the big jobs like mains replacement and maintenance to private companies and workers who do not have to be put on the government payroll.

Will the PNM actually throw on the breadline those workers and their families numbering maybe 10,000 members of the voter base? That I will have to see.

So in the final reckoning who takes the cake and who takes the shame for this master blaster of a disaster that is WASA and its fellows?

Dr. Eric Williams the creator of the PNM and WASA must take the major blame for his failure of vision for his people, his racist and anti-national views on the spoils of election victory. He doomed the country to division and government employees to perpetual failure. But he is dead some 40 years now.

The PNM of today and the past two generations must take big shame for blindly continuing along with the floundering vision of Dr. Williams for the nation and their people. How many decades does it take for a huge, powerful party to step out of the shadow of its founder and onto a brighter road?

I have a little sympathy for the bewildered and outraged WASA workers now facing public anger and the retrenchment axe. From their point of view, they did only what their hero Dr. Williams asked them to do. Take the good job for life, work or don’t work as you please but make sure to vote PNM on election day. How is that same PNM now talking about efficiency, meeting customer needs and overstaffing when nobody brings those up for 55 years? How come you talking about water for those country areas now when all the time PNM telling us don’t bother with them Indian areas them is the enemy?

The bottom line is that the PNM government just cannot afford to keep subsidizing so many unproductive freeloaders as the WASA gang, and the WASA massacre has to take place. Innocent will go with the guilty. The port comes next and down the line there is a long list of government funded bodies whose workers are shaking in their boots.

Prime Minister Keith Rowley and his party cannot pretend WASA is a strange animal they have just discovered. WASA is their baby and has been so for 55 years. They can’t pin the donkey tail on the UNC or the Indians. Dr. Williams must be turning in his grave like a windmill.

Let the executions begin.

Facebook Comments Box
Tags: Dr. Eric WilliamsPNM
Share7Tweet5Share2
ADVERTISEMENT
Ramdath Jagessar

Ramdath Jagessar

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Dool Hanomansingh

Never too late for Dinesh to redeem himself!

May 3, 2025
Dool Hanomansingh

Pakistan has always been a puppet nation

May 3, 2025
High Commission of India in Guyana extends Indian Arrival Greetings

High Commission of India in Guyana extends Indian Arrival Greetings

May 5, 2023
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

In Support of Guyana President in Condemning India Terror Attack

May 2, 2025
Kamla Persad Bissessar

IDC CONGRATULATES HON. KAMLA PERSAD BISSESSAR ON TRINIDAD & TOBAGO ELECTIONS VICTORY

May 4, 2025
Dool Hanomansingh

Pakistan has always been a puppet nation

May 3, 2025
Dool Hanomansingh

Never too late for Dinesh to redeem himself!

May 3, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Guyana must seek USA Protection against Venezuela Threat

May 2, 2025

The most important world news and events of the day.

Get ICDN daily newsletter on your inbox.

ADVERTISEMENT
Indo Caribbean Diaspora News

© 2024 Indo-Caribbean Diaspora News. All rights Reserved

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Condition

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Columns
  • Letters
  • Community News
  • Opinions
  • Videos
  • Features
  • Editorials

© 2024 Indo-Caribbean Diaspora News. All rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In