Don’t write off the debt owed to the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) by delinquent water users.
That’s the advice Nation online readers is giving after executive chairman of the BWA Arni Walters recently said the millions of dollars owed by tardy customers may have to be written off.
Readers believe that Government needs to get tough and be more aggressive with its collection of money it is owed. Some also believe that when people know that there is a planned write off of bad debt, delinquents will never pay up. They are also concerned that this could set a bad precedent and recognized there are some people who struggle to meet all their financial obligatonions.
Walters, in an interview, said the debt collection agencies who were employed to recover the arrears were only able to collect about ten per cent of the money owed. In January last year, more than $5 million was owed in unpaid bills dating back as far as five years.
Our readers gave their own views on this issue in a NATION TALBACK on Facebook when we asked if they believed the debt should be written off.
Melvin Skeete: “That debt should never be written off. Organizations always have allowances for bad debt but it should still remain on the books as people may pay in the future. If a write off is announced people will never pay. That would be debt forgiveness. The Government should get tough with people who drive around Barbados in their expensive cars, go to plenty fetes and refuse to pay their water bills. Those who have a genuine case of hardship should be given assistance by Government. I think the Government should seriously consider privatizing the Water Authority. Then you would see how fast these companies will pay and you can bet Bajans will find the money to pay their water bills.
Darius Bourne: “Water in Barbados is too cheap for people to be owing 50 and 60 dollars a month. Why should people have money to go parting but not pay water that they waste? It sickens me to my stomach the things we do in Barbados. While other people in other countries don’t get running water or get limited running water, our Government makes sure everyone has access to water so return the favour”.
Jebarrie Prescod: “The BWA is a business entity like any other place and they are in the game to earn revenue while at the same time providing an essential service to Barbadians. The BWA has to be more relentless in its pursuit of these funds to get what is owed to them. Starting a trend of being too quick to write-off water bills may result in more persons being unwilling to pay for this very important resource”.
Milan Coutain: “Why do we keep writing of monies owed by delinquents? You run a business pay the bill. You have a house, pay the bills, you can speak to someone and arrange a payment arrangement or get your water turned off”.
Tracy Barker: “It’s not right! I really hope that those delinquents do not have water for the rest of their lives! Why should they? They are not paying their bills”.
Dawn Rollins: “Why would the Barbados Water Authority write off millions of dollars in debt that is owed to them by delinquent consumers? What about the thousands who struggled and are struggling to pay their water bill and other bills for that matter? Is it fair to them? What message is the administration and the Government sending to the people of Barbados? This means that John Public can utilize the services of the Water Authority, not pay for it and the debt will be written off.
Rollins also suggested that the BWA establish a department with staff who will contact these delinquent consumers, have them come in and discuss their finances and sign an agreement to pay what they can on a weekly or monthly basis. “These government departments need to employ human beings to deal with the general public, especially in delicate situations,” she said, recognizing that there are some delinquent consumers who could not care less who they owe and who is affected by their delinquency.
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