00:00Public Utilities Minister Barry Padaroff is backing strong language used to describe the sabotage of Wassa infrastructure in Tobago,
00:09calling the act not just criminal, but a direct attack on the state.
00:15I want to endorse that. I want to also say that I believe it is an act of treason for
00:22persons to commit these sort of acts against the state apparatus.
00:26The incident which disrupted water supply across parts of Tobago has already led to the arrest of nine persons.
00:33I'm advised of one of those persons is an employee of Wassa and therefore I'm almost certain the commissioner and
00:41the TTPS will conduct the necessary investigations and we look forward to the outcome of those.
00:46Despite the disruption, the minister says water distribution on the island has since returned to normal but warns that the
00:54consequences for such acts must be strengthened.
00:58He has already spoken with the attorney general.
01:02Apart from possible jail time, possibly taking it through, ventilating it through the courts, you also have to look at
01:08the issue of fines.
01:09It cannot be that persons are stealing water from Wassa and the fine is $275.
01:14Padarath adds that reports of water theft have been particularly prevalent in parts of South Trinidad, including Separia.
01:23There are private contractors who are accessing Wassa's facilities in the night in particular,
01:30stealing water from Wassa's facilities and then selling it to residents and communities.
01:36Wassa has forwarded the information to the TTPS.
01:40I intend on asking the commissioner for a meeting because even though these matters were reported to the TTPS over
01:47the last couple of days,
01:49we advise that nothing has been done as yet and therefore I think it's necessary for Wassa and the Ministry
01:55of Public Utilities to engage the TTPS directly to find out what are the limitations.
02:00Investments, Padarath said, are being made in security apparatus for utility sites across the country.
02:07Ravishita Wari Ruknarain, TV6 News.
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