The Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) says talk of looming staff and salary cuts at Dominica’s sole water company DOWASCO is “very insensitive”.
In reaction to the news, employees wore black ribbons yesterday as a form of solidarity with each other.
Staff at DOWASCO had been informed by management of intentions to trim down the number of workers because of what has been said is the need to cut costs.
But even while the DPSU has not met with the heads at DOWASCO, the union’s general secretary, Thomas Letang, is of the view that in order for the water company to deal with the difficulties it is facing, it should impose a “minimal” increase on its tariff instead of sending staff home.
“It’s between 13 to 15 years since the tariff was last increased,” he argued. “We are saying that a minimal increase can take care of the situation. DOWASCO has about 20,000 subscribers and if we have every subscriber or consumer pay an average of $5 increase a month that would be equal to about $100,000 and that can take care of some of the difficulty that DOWASCO is experiencing at this time,” Letang said.
He stressed that the intention by DOWASCO is unfair as it would be done “with no regard for the people’s commitment, the fact that they will not be able to school their children, the fact that they will not be able to pay their mortgages”.
In a move to cut spending DOWASCO has also allegedly cut overtime pay to its workers.
DPSU has vowed to do all it can to prevent DOWASCO from terminating the employment of some of its staff and from lowering salaries.
how the government expect dowasco to run properly or without making a loss when the hve been asking for tariff increase for yrs after yrs with no success while the company keeps employing more pple because of the work load and also staff getting salary increase. how is the company gonna profit when they are spending more every year while their income is the same year in year out. so mr austrie i don’t see anything that would help dowasco and their employees more than a tariff increase. problem solve
that is not the only solution at hand here. There are several other options to consider. If you seriously thought about it, then you will get the bigger picture. Think outside the box a bit.
Remember Central Water Authority in the late 70’s? Here we are again. Bravo! Dominica we doing good, “De nex level”.
if dowasco has to cut staff they should start with those workers who are there for the last 15 to 20 yrs they are tired and are probably making a whole hip of mistakes. they should cut down on uniform allowances because if u watch properly dowasco staffs change uniforms much more often than other institutions (the women). and if the government don’t want to give them the go to raise he water bill they should use the money for the state house to help the company out dowasco needs that money 150% more than the state house
so you propose that they cut everyone who has been there over 15yrs. Either way they will still be collecting a pension from the company, so how does that fix the problem? Yes it would be nice to retire a few but to completely get rid of the experience. Dont you think that it cost more to train than to retain the people you already have. I agree that begin to cut small, start with overtime, and nix the uniform changes. Get rid of all the extra expenses that the workers have grown so dependent on such as expense accounts. But consider the whole picture, not a fraction.
people not making money and you people still want to put up where we getting money to pay more wicked fire burn you people
You say people are not making money!!!… perhaps… but consider this, I bet you would gladly pay that extra $5.00 to supersize that drink at Pizza hut, or that order of fries you simply couldnt resist, something that is consumed within minutes vs, the water you need, essential for life which could be more benefical to you than those fries or that supersized drink.
You would gladly pay for the fast food but not for the water which you need… The increase may not even be long lasting. If the company makes the necessary changes, and maybe increase by $5. maybe it could work and keep afloat for a long period of time. Eventually you will see that money returned to you 10 fold. You may not even miss that $5 you crying about.
Yes the world is in an economic crisis but that does not stop people from spending, not even you.
That good for Dowasco there are people who have water connection for over 40 years and wont pay a cent. Villagers have reported it to the general manager and they have not done anything about it and now they talking about increasing rate. tell dem to make their survey again.
that is one solution I am sure the company may be inclined to. Perhaps if they formulate the surveys better hat can help eliminate 5% which may not seem alot, but that 5% could be that $ 5 some people crying about.
your negative spin on DWASCO affects you too dear, so when u say good for them, you are that .5% being affected by what is happening, even far more than those not paying the utility bill
dem people deh too wicked boy…tlk abt hiking up water price…wat dey have to do is stop import frickin water…i never seen a more foolish economy…u literraly living by a river and buying water…i realize we aint got too many smart people in power
have you been to the nearest river lately?… you say that they are not smart but you are less smarter.
how long do you think that the rivers you speak of could service the millions of Dominicans? when those resources dry up what next? ( the tourism industry declines, attractions will close)… get the drift… You are thinking inside the box rather than stepping from the situation and looking at it from a bigger perspective.
If however, we can educate our people better on not cutting down trees to domesticate and build houses then the water resources will be available. but no… with time and technological advancement changes have come about, with change comes consequenses and those are some of the factors of change that needs to be dealt with.
Arent you grateful for the importation of water, I am sure you dont even think about the amount of water you consume and how it affects everyone, the long showers, the gallons of water you waste turning on the faucet.
It is not a matter of being wicked… its a matter of renegotating the usage of resources, which in this case is WATER!!!
I find the idea of putting up on water rate nonsense. should the country really pay for this? y doesn’t ettinof cut his salary. Mr letang needs to keep his mouth shut on this matter. Would he pay if the price went up? these union ppl are so single minded they only think of themselves.
Sum of the state house money should go towards funding Dowasco`s daily operation and preserve the employment factor of Dominica.
well well dowasco not easy eh, you mean to say they want to send de little players home.
normally when a team is doing bad the first people to go is the coach, de manager and de trainer eh not de goal keeper of midfielder. they not easy eh
Let’s be realistic. The rate of water is not that high. A mere maximum of $5.00 per consumer would help a great deal. Let’s consider the people who would be losing their jobs.
as a former dowasco worker i have to simpathize with my former colleauges losing one job is never easy and there are a lot of finical implications to job loss to those who talk about man power and efficent work practise when i large and establish company like dowasco has or had in my time one compressor to share amoung 8 crews then the output has to be poor and people will come and look at leaks and then have to return some days later as the compressor or the backhoe is on another job so the delivery and efficiency has to be sub standard
back to losing one job maybe the workers and union need to look at a wage freeze instead of a wage cut inorder to save jobs but i time limit need to be in place
Letang, how dare you????
WASTE NOT WANT NOT, IS A LAW OF NATURE.
FOR TOO LONG WE HAVE BEEN TAKING OUR VAST WATER RESOURSES FOR GRANTED AND NOW,THIS SITUATIONS SHOULD MAKE US CONSERVE WHAT WE HAVE.
AS FAS AS DOWASCO IS CONCERNED , FOR A PRIVATE COMPANY IT IS TOO DEEP IN THE POLITICES AND TOO MUCH GOV’T INFLUNCE. THE WORKERS CAN’T EVEN TALK AGAINST THE LABOUR PARTY WITHOUT BEING FIRED. SO BAD MANAGEMENT HAS A BIG ROLE TO PLAY IN THE DESPERATE SITUATION THAT DOWASCO IS IN. WORKER AGAINST WORKER AND GOV’T MONITORING MANANGERS.
DOMINICANS HAVE TO COME OUT TO TAKE LEADERSHIP FROM THIS GOV’T OR ELSE BY THE TIME WE REALISE WHAT STUFF WE ARE IN IT MAY BE TOO LATE.
This is nonsence why don’t you get more information by that i mean accurate information fist dowasco is not private government is the sole share holder and those that are in the kitchen that feels the heat why do you want to make the dowasco situation so political go and do some research before you put your comments on the internet
What? With the country doing so well?
There is no easy fix. To upgrade meters that provide an efficient and accurate reading of each customer’s water usage I guess will cost millions which DAWASCO doesn’t have. The problem with the way things work in Dominica is we’re always reactive instead of being proactive. Because of a lack of foresight many decades ago where very few paid to upkeep the system, DAWASCO has been operating at a deficit. Now that the Govt is unable to fund major water projects and provide adequate support to DAWASCO simultaneously, what do we do now? Laying off workers in this situation will be just a temp fix. Of course if DAWASCO is truely overstaffed then cuts should be made. Here is one fair and equitable thing to consider. Add a prorated maintenance fee to each customer’s bill depending on their water consumption. Those who get water from a public standpipe should also pay something.
Why should 65,000 of us suffer for the laying off of just a few people? not that i’m supporting the fact that they will loose their daily bread…. but we have to be ethical when making these public statements. the same utility companies who report how much millions of dollars of profit they making anally seeking to cut cost to increase profits by laying off poor people! “DOMINICAN OPEN ALL YOU EYES”
To you it might be only a small amount. Say like six dollars more a month. Would you really let someone loose their job for six dollars? Think about it, think if it was you. However it is significantly more then the majority should win.
Sir or I wonder if I should use such a title for someone as low as you are. First of all you have all the facts wrong. for a number of years Dowasco has been reporting and annual lost, while I am at it this is how annual is spelt. in addition to this their rate are ridiculously low, cents per gallon and $10:00 per sewer. I mean come on man. One company’s monthly electricity bill may be able to pay dowasco for one year. do you understand? have a heart these are people with families and commitments. One of the most important thing when can do is empathise that mean simply put yourself in somebody else’s place. I would rather pay $10:00 more for waterbill than have 50 people receive no salary.
Why every time a company needs to raise their rates there needs to be a big hullaballoo?? Foolishness. DOWASCO needs money to run and it is as simple as that. Just announce the rate increase and finish with that. People will find the money to pay for water. Stop playing politics with everything. Water is life. Jeez man. Just work out a reasonable increase and get on with it. One chicken and chips is ten dollars; what is ten dollars more on a bill. 5 dollars not enough. Let the company make money and be able to provide a good service. People make an issue of everything if you give them chance. People get real.
Global economic problems are the roots of this situation.i experienced it.but the same cut-backs going on everywhere.hold tight.hope the banks will overstand the situation.tchimbe wed,pa moli ce moli-a ki wed.
DOWASCO is not ready to make money. It takes them six weeks to do a survey and another six to connect your pipes. Paid for water connection a whole six weeks still waiting for the connection so i know what i am talking about
you are very true i had that same experience,within this month.
True dat! I had a similar experience with them.
That doesn’t aplly there. Fool wait when that is the issue.
They should start cutting on the uniform allownce. By the time the uniforms are replaced it can still go a long way. Why should i have to pay for Dowasco to mintain workers. It is a decrease for me in salary. PSU should think before making such comments
So true. Not to mention they are over staffed. How often do we
five men going on a project when only two are needed? Everybody
wants to increase their bills to be paid on salaries which are just
not being increased!!
why don’t you come and work at DOWASCO and you will have a different point of view i am a worker there so i know first hand don’t need anybody to tell me or sell there lies to me
Let DOWASCO pass the salaries given to the Statutory Board of Directors, who already have established employment elsewhere, back to the company. Leave the struggling working class alone! There’s a dead fly in the ointment.
I have it from an inside source…aka employee; that the GM of DOWASCO has been begging the govt to increase rates for a while now. As it stands Dominicans pay the least for water in the entire Caribbean yet it costs us the most to get this water into our homes!
DOWASCO engineers and pipe layers have no accident insurance yet they can be found scaling mountain sides trying to get potable water to the villages of Dominica. People be honest, we waste water because of our “alleged 365 rivers”. A $5.00 increase won’t break any pockets, but it will save the jobs of those workers who are doomed to be sent home
I agree with the gist of the argument here. A small increase is not burdensome for the great majority of households and will help save the jobs and secure the living standards of DOWASCO’s employees and their families. DOWASCO has been asking the Government for an increase in the tariff for some time now, and the Govt should no longer postpone giving its approval for fear of losing votes. After all, we are told there is no strong opposition to the DLP. It’s 18 to 3.
true that i support it
Dowasco needs to pass around and check their meters. they are losing so much money. I know so many meters that are not being maintained. consumers are using the water, and the meters are not reading the gallons. So the consumer would only pay $18.00 when in fact it should be higher. They are losing alot of money that way.
meter readers work on aproximity from their homes.
I think the problem with DOWASCO is to much politics and mismanagement. Although DOWASCO has a management team, it is run from the ministry. What the minister says goes, in order to support their political stance without consider the good of the company. For example, when election is approaching, thats when you see ground breaking for all the water project around Dominica. Minister calls and say do this project and government will fund it, DOWASCO completes project and if they ever receive money from government is a small percentage, many many months later.
When you remove standpipes, make sure you replace them lots of fire hydrants everywhere in case of fire. The standpipes among other reasons serve as bucket brigades in some cases. You cannot remove them. Think something else. Everybody should be water-metered in this day and age. People should learn also to conserve on water. If the Corporation is over-bloated, then there is a need to reduce staff.
Leeetttt the rumble begin!
I cannot feel bad for Dowasco they have been employing and firing too many people there based on political affiliation. Its over staffed to begin with and my other point being personal my sons father has worked there for 23 years and he does not support his son who lives in the US at all even he makes a decent living there. Increasing the water bill would be burdening other people to support salaries that dont do enough work or just been brought by a Minister, I dont think so.
i hve no idea where you got ur info from about dowasco just employing and firing pple based on political affiliation that’s not correct at all if u breach the company’s rules shouldnt u be fired? if u wanna comment just say ur child father is not supporting him and he makes a good change there but still i don’t see what this has to do with cutting of salary and staff so please b4 y’all comment get all u fact first
is damn true use money of the state house not in the little increase they just give us .it already not enough u still want 5 dollatrs u sick letang
Increase what rates? That’s not the best solution.
One thing that could be done straight away is to make sure every consumer is on a metered water supply and remove standpipes, which one sees kept runninf and misused (….car washing!) all over the place. It is only right that everyone pay for what they use.
I agree with the removal of stand pipes and installing of meters on all lines, cause the non- metered users seem to waste as well. In terms of the staff I think that DOWASCO is overstaffed in certain areas, sometimes you go to pay a bill and some of the ladies are sitting doing nothing, in addition the lines are not very long until month end, so why all those cashiers, also with the introduction of paying bills are various locations are reduced clients coming to pay bill at DOWASCO. Management needs assistance in reviewing the staff structure and determine whether the is value for money. Starting from the top!
i disagree with giving each customer meter but i agree with cutting of all stand pipes. i disagree with sending home staff not now cut down in salaries.
aaaaiiiii,
not the stand pipes,there are many persons who I personal known dont have a job and trying to makes ends meet every day,why cut them?? they too need water,if they dont have work how would they pay for the water?
humm rain water…………………..lol………….or the rivers
This is the next level!!!!!!!!!. This is development!!!!!!!!!! Who’s next????????
How laugh last laugh the best. Go ahead laugh at those people who might loss their job
this is not politics ok.
You go and fill up your tank with gas and you pay according to what is on the pump’s meter. You pay Domlec according to the units you have used. So why should water be any different?
That’s true…alot of times when those dowasco fellas on the roads doing a job, you seeing one person working and the others standing around watching him…so that means it haven’t got enough work for everybody to do.
Any cutting of workers will certainly impact the Social Security contributions and bring SHAME to a Financial Secretary who boasts about the invisisible growth in the dying Dominican economy. Keep people working DOWASCO!
I hear a strike plan for next week papa.
But Mr. Letang must be man enough to do the right thing for Dominica since he is in a very privilege position of representing both the Public Works Department and Dowasco.
Why Sir have you not seriously brought the two Chairmen of these two organisations together with the Minister of Public Works and the Prime Minister to have one entity rather than the two which has a serious duplication issue of tools and equipment in many instances?
This is where the waste resides and cannot continue!!!
But we the tax payers of this Country know full well why you refuse to take such initiative!!! The union dues that you will receive monthly will likely decrease.
Government would have only one Board, one General Manager, one set of heavy equipment, one bank overdraft, one set of admin staff, and one office building and a lot of waste eliminated that would benefit taxpayers of this whole Country!!!
TRUE DAT! I find that indeed much of Government services are not run effeciently. There is a lot of waste, duplication, and just rampant ineffeciency going on! I don’t find the proposal of the five dollar rate increase would help in the long term either. DOWASCO NEEDS to do a complete overhaul of the system. Fix those leaky pipes, broken pipes, quickly, account for mileage on the vehicles, demand effeciency from staff, and if any cuts must come, let’s start with the salaries of the board and other fat paychecks high up on the ladder!
amen to that
Dowasco does not need to reduce staff nor increase rates. They need to be more
effecient in the running of DOWASCO.
Case in point…A pipe burst in a village. DOWASCO sends two men and apick up to “check” the damage.
A week later… they send another bigger truck with three men to repair a damage that could be repaired with one worker. . Money and time wasted.
DOWASCO needs to tighten up in delivering service and reucing waste.
use the money for the state house to help dowasco
When DOWASCO workers are alerted to a burst pipe, perhaps on that first visit they should anticipate repairing the problem and not just checking it and anticipate the tools and equipment they may need and stock their pick-ups before arrival. After all they should already have a good idea of what may be needed from past experiences. It may not be necessay to return. If it is not possible on that first visit tto carry out repairs, then of course it is understandable they will have to return with the appropriate equipment. This would surely save time manpower and most important, money.