PORT MARIA, St Mary — With close to $800 million owed in unpaid water bills for standpipes, Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie has said that, until an audit of the pipes is done, no more money will be disbursed to municipal corporations for payment to the National Water Commission (NWC).

Speaking at the St Mary Municipal Corporation’s monthly meeting on Thursday, McKenzie said although a hefty bill is owed to the NWC for these pipes, many of them are not servicing communities.

The minister said, too, that many of the standpipes are being used for personal gain, such as car washes or cookshops.

He said many individuals abuse State resources because they do not have to pay for them.

“It is not free water. We have to pay for the water,” McKenzie said on Thursday.

“No further funds will be released to the local authority for standpipes until we know what exists and what is functioning,” McKenzie continued.

The local government minister said as soon as an assessment is done, the funds will be released.

Meanwhile, McKenzie pointed out that many of the standpipes have been abandoned, but the municipal corporations continue to pay for them. He said, too, that his ministry will engage the NWC to disconnect some of the pipes that are out of service.

— Renae Dixon