BWA: Arrears putting future of service in jeopardy

The Barbados Water Authority (BWA) is warning that its ability to supply the vital resource is in jeopardy because of customers’ non-payment of more than $26 million in arrears.

General Manager Keithroy Halliday served notice on Friday as he appealed to delinquent customers to take advantage of the extended grace period which the BWA is giving to settle their accounts.

Customers now have until the end of October to make arrangements to pay their bills, failing which their water supply will be cut off.

“Given that we have exercised all possible measures of leniency for the past 30 months, it is clear that we can no longer continue to do so. As bills continue to be unpaid and our arrears have climbed to over $26 million, this is untenable and, if continued, will severely affect the Barbados Water Authority’s ability to produce water as we will not be able to pay our bills in turn or our salaries or our suppliers,” Halliday cautioned.

“If everyone, therefore, makes an effort to pay what is arguably the most valuable commodity and start to put the Barbados Water Authority first, we will be able to reverse the current climbing trend of arrears and ensure that we can continue to do our part and improve on the safe delivery of water and wastewater services for all of us. Help us to help you,” the general manager pleaded.

Halliday has encouraged indebted customers to visit the BWA’s Pine, St Michael headquarters between 8.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. to work out a payment plan.

“Our repayment plan teams have been trained and they are on standby to assist you in working out a most appropriate flexible plan,” he assured.

“…. We have already extended the grace period until the end of October of this year to ensure that each of you… has an opportunity to come in and settle your arrears.

“Following this period of amnesty, the BWA will have no choice but to recommence the disconnection of the water services of customers whose accounts are still in arrears, once no effort has been made to engage the Authority to settle the debt,” Halliday warned.