Tobago East and surrounding communities should see improvement in their water supply in the near future.
This, as officials have assured that a Water Treatment Plant will be installed at Goldsborough.
Speaking at the Sod Turning Ceremony, Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales said over $180 million has been expended by the Central Government to improve the water supply for Tobagonians.
“So far, the Central Government has spent $77 million to improve the supply of water in Tobago. $54 million have already been identified to spend on upcoming projects to improve the supply of water in Tobago, and this Goldsborough Treatment Plant is going to cost Central Government $50 million, bringing a total of $181 million to improve the supply of the water for the people of Tobago.”
Minister Gonzales said it was recognised that Tobago East needed an improved water supply and so for the past three years, planning took place to have this Water Treatment Plant constructed in the Goldsborough area.
“We have recognised that we have a prolific water source in the Goldsborough area, the Goldsborough River, that can produce two million gallons of water, and that water can be fed to some of the areas that are water-stretched in this community and surrounding communities.”
The project is being funded through a Loan Agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank. Minister of Planning and Development and IDB Trinidad and Tobago Governor, Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, stated that 70,000 residents in over 15 communities both in Tobago East and West will benefit from this infrastructure.
“The introduction of this fully-automated Water Treatment Plant and supporting civil works aims to continuously improve reliability, increase efficiency, and provide much-needed relief.”
Member of Parliament for Tobago East, Ayanna Webster-Roy, applauding the Ministry of Public Utilities, expressed that while there is room for more, Tobago has seen marked improvement in its water supply.
Construction of the Water Treatment Plant will commence on January 30th and is expected to be completed within an eight-month period.