Minister says corrupt WASA employees force people to buy water
Saturday 6th February, 2010

Corrupt WASA employees have been plotting with suppliers of truck borne water to force people into purchasing water.

The allegation was made in the House of Representatives late yesterday afternoon by Public Utilities Minister, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid.

The Minister says certain engineers responsible for operating water valves are deliberately refusing to turn on the valves in villages such as Penal.

Mr. Abdul-Hamid says this goes on for as many as two weeks at a time, leaving residents with no choice but to purchase water from truck borne suppliers.

But the Minister is assuring the public that WASA has begun purging corrupt personnel from its ranks.

At least one employee has been suspended so far, while others have been charged with offences relating to corruption in the delivery of water.

Minister Abdul-Hamid says an Israeli company has been contracted to devise a system for valves to be operated electronically from a centralised location, instead of manually by on-site

engineers.