BWA chief to step down after seven-year tenure

The acting Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Water Authority, Keithroy Halliday, has announced his intention to leave the state-owned enterprise after seven years at the helm that spanned two administrations.

In a memo to staff on Thursday, Halliday revealed he would be departing to pursue a new opportunity aligned with his personal and professional goals. He did not specify a leaving date but gave an assurance that he would continue to provide support to ensure a smooth transition over the coming months.

Halliday, who has spearheaded efforts to transform the state-owned water utility and regulator since becoming general manager in February 2017, described the decision to leave as “difficult” and reflected on what he termed a rewarding tenure.

“I wish to extend my heartfelt appreciation to each member of the Authority for what I regard as your unwavering dedication, relentless effort, and support throughout my time with the Authority,” Halliday said in the memo. “It has been an immense privilege, and I feel honoured that we have been able to accomplish notable and distinct progress in the past eight years.”

The outgoing CEO expressed confidence in the BWA’s future, noting that the authority is “on the cusp of a welcomed transformation phase”. He praised the staff’s individual and collective capabilities, encouraging them to “engage and support the efforts of the Authority to become a utility of the future”.

With a background in sustainable development, Halliday is a certified sustainable development professional and has been involved in various initiatives aimed at improving water resource management in the water-scarce island, overseeing a massive programme to replace ageing mains in a bid to reduce the loss of water before it reaches customers, known as non-revenue water leakage.

He also worked to enhance customer engagement, particularly concerning account management and repayment plans for those in arrears.

A major issue during Halliday’s tenure has been the sewage problems on the South Coast. Extensive underground work is required to join the South Coast sewage network to the Bridgetown network to provide relief after sewage began to surface on South Coast roadways.

The BWA chief executive has overseen the acquisition of excavators to accelerate this work, but progress has been slow due to challenges like hitting the water table during excavation. Blockages caused by debris have also compromised machinery like pumps at the sewage plant.

(SD/PR)