FORMER public utilities minister Marvin Gonzales has condemned Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath for scrapping a transformational plan for the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), which he said would have saved taxpayers $43 million annually instead of the $30 million figure she mentioned at post-cabinet news conference on May 15.

Gonzales, who is also Arouca/Lopinot MP, described Persad-Bissessar and Padarath’s actions as payback to the Public Services Association (PSA) for being a member of the UNC’s “coalition of interests” in the April 28 general election and maintaining a status quo in WASA which benefits the PSA and not the population.

He made these statements at a news conference at the PNM’s Balisier House headquarters, Port of Spain on May 16.