MARVIN SOUNDS WASA ALARM* Slams Gov’t for hiring of 426 workers in 7 months but Barry says it’s only short-term jobs

2026-02-06 - 02:59

Former Public Utilities minister Marvin Gonzales has accused the Government of embarking on a hiring spree at the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) during its first seven months in office, claiming the move has inflated the authority’s annual wage bill by an estimated $60 to $70 million. However, current Minister Barry Padarath has rejected Gonzales’ assertions, contending that the information presented is devoid of proper context and misrepresents the circumstances at WASA. During a People’s National Movement (PNM) media briefing at the Office of the Opposition Leader in Port-of-Spain yesterday, Gonzales disclosed the written response he received from Padarath regarding questions on how many individuals were hired at WASA between April 29 and November 30, 2025. Padarath stated that 426 people were hired during the period under review. A breakdown of the recruitment by category shows that approximately one quarter of those hires were for administrative and clerical positions. Additionally, 67 were employed as non-skilled daily-rated workers, while 12 were hired at the executive level. The written response also detailed the salaries attached to each position. These range from $8,013 per month for a staff assistant to $60,000 per month for a director. Gonzales said he worked out the cost to taxpayers. “When we did the calculation, the 426 people that were employed as of November last year, it will cost you, the taxpayers of Trinidad and Tobago, upwards of $60 million,” Gonzales said. But Gonzales said he has heard that since November, the employment rate has crept upwards. “The information that has come to me is that as of December last year, there are over 500 to 600 persons that were employed in the Water and Sewerage Authority, costing you, the taxpayers of this country, over $70 million.” Gonzales said he also asked Padarath for the criteria used to hire the 426 people but that was not provided. “They cannot say what was the recruitment criteria, how those persons were employed. Maybe Twiggy (Christine Levia) and Matara (Matara French) may know. Maybe Stark Entertainment may know. Come and tell us. Twiggy may bring her bell to ring, and she might tell you, the people of Trinidad and Tobago, what was the recruitment criteria, what was your educational qualification to fill