Some residents listen to plans for their Region.
Residents of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara were recently informed of the Guyana Water Incorporated [GWI’]s plans to enhance service within the community, during an outreach programme.
At that forum, Managing Director – Dr. Van West-Charles informed the residents that three Water Treatment Plants are being constructed in Regions 3, 4, and 6, namely Uitvlugt, Diamond and Sheet Anchor. These plants are being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank [IDB] at a cost of US$31 Million dollars. The construction of the plant in Diamond will see the Kaneville community benefitting from improved water quality. As part of the project, GWI will also be installing water meters to help reduce wastage, thus allowing customers to only pay for what they consume.
While metering aspect of the project has already begun in Diamond and will soon to commence in Kaneville, Dr. Van West-Charles assured the residents that they will not have to pay the metered rates until after they have seen an improvement in the service.
Meanwhile, based on GWI’s database, there are 629 customers in Kaneville but many have not been honouring their obligation, resulting in an $8.7 M debt to the company, as at December 2017. In this regard, the Managing Director appealed to residents to settle their outstanding balances, even as he committed to make the necessary adjustments for when the service was deemed below par for some time prior to 2015.
GWI is working with Regional Democratic Councils, the Community Development Council and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils to make those offices available for GWI Customers make payments, lodge complaints and view water quality results.
GWI’s Managing Director called on residents to cooperate with the company in an effort to complete the Water Supply and Sanitation Infrastructure Improvement Programme (WSSIIP), which has to be completed within a stipulated time frame. Failing to do so, GWI, which is the executing agency for the improvement project, can lose the funds allotted for its realisation.
Addressing concerns of water discolouration due to the presence of iron, Dr. Van West-Charles informed the residents that the Regional team will be flushing the lines and implementing a product called SeaQuest to make the water clearer. They are expected to see results within the coming weeks.
Additionally, he notified residents that at GWI, there is zero tolerance for corruption and as such, called on customers to report any unlawful or inappropriate activities carried out by staff or contactors.