Denise Forrest
The government of Saint Lucia is receiving kudos for its recent decision to grant a tariff increase to the Water and Sewage Company (WASCO).
The tariff increase positions the utility company to become economic viable and importantly to improve service delivery.
Jamaican-born Denise Forrest who has over 12 years experience in waste management, environmental management, environmental auditing and assessments and project management said the decision by the government of Saint Lucia is a move in the right direction.
Forrest who is currently the Project Coordinator for the Global Environmental Facility, Caribbean Region Fund for Wastewater Management Project said the tariff increase in Saint Lucia will go a long way to improve wastewater management.
“Governments that have the courage to do these things should be applauded because I think we are kidding your fellow citizens by giving the impression that running water and sewage utilities do not cost money and I have a study which is not ready to be released just yet but its indication is that the Utilities across the region with the exception of a few are insolvent meaning they don’t have enough money to operate effectively and their source of income is tariffs, water is not free and so we need to take different approaches to see how we can pay for it but tariffs are a way of life”.
She said the approval of tariff increases must be complemented by steps to improve management of the utility.
This has been done by government with the appointment of Vincent Hippolyte as the new WASCO General Manager.
Denise Forrest said additionally, that the company must move to cut wastage and increase efficiency by managing issues of non-revenue water.
“The difficult political questions of tariff increase have to be faced and we have to explain tot he public what it means but willingness to pay comes from an understanding of the issues and efficiencies within the sector so all of these things are important”.
The increase water rates were granted after an extraordinary review by the Water Commission.
The aim was to get over the expenses WASCO incurred during the drought of 2009/2010 and to recuperate from the losses suffered at the hands of hurricane Tomas in late October of 2010.
So far the company has received some financial relief.