As the Water and Sewerage Department works to transition to a statutory body separate from central government, officials are collaborating closely with the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Department of Human Resources to ensure a smooth transition, according to Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer.
The process, however, has been delayed by staffing limitations, he said.
“It is important that we get this right so that the staff is not disenfranchised,” Mr. Rymer said during a Sept. 5 House of Assembly meeting in response to questions from opposition member Stacy “Buddha” Mather. “The ministry will also be conducting a functional audit of the current operations and staffing of the department to determine the appropriate staff component and to ensure the appropriate structure is in place for a seamless transition to the agency.”
This transition stems from the Water and Sewerage Authority Act, 2022, which passed in the House in August 2022.
The law called for the creation of a new statutory body to oversee services, with the hope of rectifying longstanding infrastructure problems that have plagued residents for decades.
When Mr. Mather followed up with a question about the timeline for the transition, Mr. Rymer said it should have been completed already but was slowed by limited staffing.