2013-10-15 Letter to Barbados Water Authority

Tuesday October 15, 2013

The General Manager
Barbados Water Authority
Manor Lodge Complex
Green Hill
SAINT MICHAEL

Dear Sir

RE: Excessive Water Pressure Bearing down on Plumbing Systems of Households in Lower Carlton, Saint James

I write this letter on behalf of some of my constituents resident in Lower Carlton, Saint James.

These constituents, who include Messrs. Adolf Mayers, Corey McClean, Michael Joseph, Ellerton Collymore and Glenroy Bacchus as well as Misses Carmen McClean, Arlene McClean, Ria Harris and Ione Drakes, have briefed me on the issue of an extremely serious water pressure problem which is impacting negatively on their water bills and on the integrity of respective plumbing systems and homes.

My constituents inform that their district is plagued by severe water pressure on the plumbing systems in their homes. The problem has been particularly accentuated within the last year. This problem has continued in spite of your organization placing water pressure valves on some of the water meters in the area and in spite of constant repairs by respective homeowners to their plumbing systems.

My constituents have been advised by their respective plumbers that the fault lies squarely and comprehensively with your Authority. It may be related to some defect concerning the pumping station which serves the district.

I myself have noticed water flowing, presumably from some burst pipes down the main road along the stretch commencing from just above the Anglican Church Rectory, on many occasions when I travel through the district.

This situation has resulted in an astronomical increase in the monthly water bills of these customers. Furthermore, they have had to pay huge plumbing repair costs in addition to repair or replacement costs of fridges and washing machines. Furthermore, there invariably exists water damage to and cracks in their houses.

My immediate request is for the BWA to thoroughly and concertedly investigate this issue with the objective of having this dire situation solved in the very near future. My second comment is that I have advised my constituents that they have a prima facie case against your organization to recover monetary compensation for their respective losses and for reimbursement of the excessive payment which they have made to it over and above what they used to be charged before this problem magnified itself.

I look forward to hearing from you within twenty-one days of the date of this letter outlining a strategy leading towards a solution of this serious circumstance.

Yours faithfully,

_______________________________
Edmund G. Hinkson, M.P.
Member of Parliament for St. James North

cc. The Residents of Lower Carlton, Saint James

Author: ehinksonadmin

Edmund "Eddie" Hinkson is an attorney-at-law residing in Waterhall Terrace, St. James. The husband of Beverly and father of Erica and Gregory, he has an outstanding record as a community leader. He has been a member of the Lions Club of Bridgetown for the past 24 years and has the honours of being named the Best President of the Lions Clubs in the Caribbean District 60B and of serving as the Lions Clubs Leader of Barbados. Eddie has been a member of the Advisory Board of Directors of the Salvation Army for the past 5 years. He has also served as a member of the Council of St. Johns Ambulance Association, the Association of the Blind and Deaf and of the Council for the Disabled. Eddie has been a sub-committee chairman of the Small Business Association and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A member of the Lawn Tennis Association and the Paragon Tennis Club, he has sponsored cricket, football and netball tournaments, provided prizes at school speech days, assisted churches with outreach and mentorship programmes, provided food vouchers to needy persons and helped in finding solutions to constituency issues relating to land. In government, he served as Chairman of the National Conservation Commission and the Severance Payments Tribunal, Deputy Chairman of the National Housing Corporation, the National Advisory Committee on Disabilities and the Building Advisory Committee as well as a Director of the National Cultural Foundation, a Member of Consumer Claims Tribunal, Income Tax Appeal Board and the Harrison College Board of Management. Internationally, Edmund is an officer of the International Bar Association, a member of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and a member of International Who’s Who of Professionals.