The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) yesterday turned to the Police Service and Defence Force to guard the Navet, Caroni and Arena reservoirs after one of its private security contractors prematurely terminated its contract because of a staggering $100 million in excess bill.
Confirmation came from WASA’s chairman, Romney Thomas, yesterday who admitted that the company, T&T Security Services (TTSS), withdrew its services around 7 pm on Tuesday. TTSS has a staff of 800 employees who provided security to WASA’s two reservoirs and other facilities.
Thomas said when he heard of the sudden walkout he contacted National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and Public Utilities Minister Ancil Antoine about the incident. Thereafter the T&T Police Service and the T&T Defence Force were notified.
“The police and army were able to give us short-term cover in those critical high risk areas so the facilties have been and will always remain covered. We had assistance to ensure that they were properly protected.”
Yesterday, Thomas said other security firms employed by the WASA provided additional security at critical areas where water was stored.
Asked what was the overall payment owed to TTSS, Thomas said: “They (TTSS) are claiming in excess of $100 million. It is nowhere near that figure, based on our last view.” He said TTSS’ three-year contract was valued at $146 million “which I think is high in any case. That is something we were in the process of reviewing in any case.”
Thomas said TTSS still had 18 months left on the contract. “They are claiming that we have $100 million for them already. It just does not add up. If I remember correctly the compliment of workers in the contract was under 400.”
Thomas said while WASA “will settle all legitimate claims, we have some concerns about some of the level of billing because they were doing a lot of work that was out of scope. I don’t think there was proper documentation for it so we have to make sure there is proper documentation. That is what we were doing...reviewing the invoices... having a proper audit done on those invoices.”
He could not say when they would pay TTSS, stating WASA always faces a cash flow issue.
Business facing closure
General manager of TTSS, Towfeek Ali, confirmed yesterday his company had ended its contract with WASA for failing to pay them in a timely fashion for services rendered. TTSS is now seeking legal action to recover its payments from WASA.
Ali broke down in tears at his Chaguanas home, saying his heart goes out to his 800 workers, many of whom are single mothers, who may face the breadline if something is not done fast.
“This is something that has been bothering me for some time. If WASA does not make some partial payment, I would have no choice but to close my business, which has practically fallen apart. I didn’t get any impression from WASA that this is disturbing them,” Ali said.
Having called “a breach on the contract” Ali said his workers would now be displaced.
“Many of them are disturbed by the news. They are saddened not knowing what the future holds for them. How will they pay their rent, mortgages, car loans, feed their families and survive?” he asked.
Ali said on Tuesday he ordered his workers to vacate WASA’s offices. The workers said they were owed salaries for April.
Yesterday, some of them staged a protest outside WASA’s head office, St Joseph, calling on WASA to settle its unpaid debt.