Scores of residents of Sangre Grande and surrounding communities braved the inclement weather on Tuesday afternoon to attend the first of several public outreach engagements being undertaken by the Ministry of Public Utilities.
An initiative of the Minister of Public Utilities, Senator the Honourable Robert Le Hunte, the event took the form of a display of services offered by the entities that fall under the Ministry’s purview: WASA, T&TEC, TT POST, SWMCOL and the Government Electrical Inspectorate Division, GEID.
Residents were able to access several of the services offered by MPU’s agencies such as house wiring assistance (REAP), water tank and solar panel and utilities assistance (UAP). Several applications were also made for the installation of street lights under T&TEC’s public lighting programme.
Senior executives and members of the management teams of the utilities were on hand to address concerns raised by residents.
Public Utilities Minister Senator Robert Le Hunte, in his address to the residents, challenged the Agencies to provide a greater level of service to citizens, who he said deserve better than they are getting now.
He added that the Ministry is committed to ensuring this happens, and to fixing the problems affecting the operations of the utilities, despite challenging economic realities.
The series of public outreach engagements are expected, among other things, to: build trust among key stakeholders; facilitate greater access to the programmes and services offered by the Ministry and its agencies; and provide an opportunity for residents to discuss the challenges they may face with the services provided.
The next public engagement is expected to take place in the Lopinot/ Bon Air West constituency towards the end of September.