Expect droughts Manning aware of water problems…
Juhel Browne jbrowne@trinidadexpress.com
Droughts can be experienced in Trinidad and Tobago due to climate change, says Prime Minister Patrick Manning as he noted his administration has already taken notice of the water shortages now facing several parts of the country.
Manning acknowledged the severity of the situation and revealed the Government’s planned response to it during a People’s National Movement (PNM) public meeting in Malabar on Tuesday night where residents there told the Express that water problems have been a regular feature in daily life there.
’As it now stands in 2010 the rainfall is already much lower than it is anticipated… and we believe it is El Nino, but it does not in any way negate our conclusion that as a result of climate change among other things we can experience droughts in Trinidad and Tobago,’ Manning said.
He reiterated the Government’s previous announcements that desalination plants are to be constructed in certain areas close to the sea at great expense to address the problem and provide more potable drinking water but added this would require new water distribution systems as some 50 per cent of the existing supply is now lost due to leaks.
Manning also disclosed that there was a shortfall of 97,000 houses that are yet to be built as part of the public sector housing programme which is costing taxpayers $1.5 billion a year.
He said his Government intends to clear that backlog by 2022, which is two years after his administration’s 2020 target date for having this country achieve developed country status.
Manning said the Government is ’moving now to complete all the outstanding houses’ by August for the latest and added that ’by the middle of the year ’ it hopes to ’initiate our construction programme again and to ramp it up in the shortest possible time to the figure of 8,000 houses a year from the public sector.’
’At that rate, with a deficit of 97,000 at 8,000 houses a year it would take you 12 years. It would take you 12 years to complete but that is assuming that things remain static…I am putting this to you ladies and gentlemen so you will understand the size of the problem and it costs $1.5 billion a year, to sustain a housing programme at that rate,’ Manning said.
Housing Minister Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde, who also spoke during the meeting said that ’between and 2007 and 2009, despite what you’ve heard 6,648 housing units were constructed and 2,064 units were allocated to homeowners’ as she assured the revamped HDC construction programme will yield better results. (Trinidad Express)