The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) was recently ordered to compensate a Freeport homeowner for damages caused by a leaking underground pipeline. The leak severely damaged the home, causing the foundation to weaken and putting the house at risk.
Master Sherlanne Pierre ruled in favor of the homeowner, Balchan Gopie, ordering WASA to pay him $3.3 million plus interest for the damage. The lawsuit, filed in 2016, cited negligence on the part of WASA for failing to address leaks near the property in a timely manner.
Gopie reported the leaks to WASA in 2012, but only some were repaired, while two remained outstanding. The delay in fixing the leaks caused the soil around Gopie’s home to become saturated, leading to structural damage that made the house uninhabitable by 2015.
Despite efforts by Gopie to seek compensation from WASA, including soil tests and assessments by various experts, he received no definitive response. WASA, in its defence, claimed no negligence on its part and shifted responsibility to Gopie for failing to prevent damage to the building.
Represented by Anand Ramlogan, SC, Jared Jagroo, and Robert Mitchell, Gopie successfully argued his case against WASA, emphasizing the safety concerns and distress caused by the damaged home. This ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of timely maintenance and response to potential hazards to prevent such situations in the future.
