Frustrated with the black tank water system that has serviced their community for several months now, De Kinderen residents blocked the public road yesterday demanding a better service from the water authority.
Rejecting what they described as a cycle of continuous water fetching, irregular black tank visits and an inadequate supply of “the most basic human right”, residents took to the roadway, impeding the hectic flow of traffic along West Coast Demerara for some three hours while pressing for immediate changes.
Shortly after the protest began at around 10 am, a representative from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) travelled to De Kinderen and met with angry residents to communicate that the company was in the process of sending over the black tanks to service the area. This was not enough to placate residents who vowed to keep the protest going until the water arrived.
The tanks arrived at around 1 pm when the protest action ended. Residents said they intend to keep the issue on the front burner until GWI corrects the situation.
GWI has since arranged a meeting with residents for October 15 to discuss the problems facing the community. Senior officers within GWI are expected to address residents on a possible way forward.
De Kinderen residents said the decision to take to the streets was long overdue and though they came close to taking that step before, no one wanted to make the first move. Four women who could take it no longer made that first move yesterday and together carried the remains of a container onto the public road. Within minutes, a large section of the densely populated community joined in bringing other materials to make up the barricade.
“People in so many areas get water and they does waste it, ask anyone of us if one cup does waste and you know how rough we got it. Government, GWI and the rest of Guyana need to know that we suffering and suffering real bad”, one man remarked.
It has been over a year since new pipelines were installed in the community but according to the residents, the pipes are now souvenirs in their homes since water no longer comes through the taps. After the pipes were installed the water supply lasted two days, in some instances, homes were serviced for one day.
Numerous complaints were filed with GWI and concerns were raised at the level of the Regional Democratic Council, residents said, but no changes since. They said GWI is fully aware of their struggles and instead of trying to satisfy them, the company took the decision to send in the black tanks on an irregular basis.
Accusations of the black tank operators favouring some people over others were made and a few residents said they only get water to cover about half a day’s work in the home. When the tanks visited the community last Saturday, residents said they had no indication when it would have returned but the water they received then was not enough to last the days GWI expects it to.
Bursting into tears, one woman said she pleaded with a passer-by this morning for a bucket of water because of her children and the man decided to help her out. She said the situation is so bad that that it has reduced them to beggars. The woman said water is “vital to life and so important that just a little bit of it can mean so much at times”.
Patrick McAulay, a senior citizen who said De Kinderen has been his home for 23 years said he has reached the stage where selling and relocating seems like a really bright idea. The man said for three years now he has not had the benefit of potable water in his home and “now this”, according to him.
McAulay said GWI cannot play games with something as important as water. He said De Kinderen residents have been silent for long and have quietly endured the pain of looking out for the black tank and looking in vain and sometimes, missing the supply. As he stood in the middle of the road in the company of other residents, McAulay said for the first time in months he feels like something was being achieved even if it meant affecting others.
His statement came a few minutes before police, who had assembled at the scene to observe what was happening, managed to briefly open the roadway. Traffic was allowed to flow for about three minutes before it was blocked again. During this time residents clashed with a few minibus drivers who said they were losing money with every hour that passed.
“We know the situation but what put we in the middle. We making a living and when people do these things we losing bread”, a minibus driver said to no avail. The residents had a strict policy, “No traffic flow until the water flowed”.
A fight later broke out between the protestors when a hearse carrying the body of a child approached the barricade to proceed in the direction of the city. Many protestors said the hearse had to wait in line like the other vehicles while others sympathized with the grieving family seated inside the hearse.
“Let de dead wait, this thing ain’t gat preference”, one woman shouted. Though many sided with her others disagreed and demanded that the hearse be let through. After a few minutes of tangling the hearse was able to pass.
In February this year letter writer, Ashton Simon who resides at De Kinderen highlighted the water situation. He said the community has experienced so much neglect that residents are disgusted.
“How will we survive? How will our children fare at school? How will our babies grow to be healthy? Water is a crucial necessity for cooking, washing, hygiene functions and drinking. This is not good for our communal or country’s development”, he wrote.
Simon also spoke of a similar situation at Meten-Meer-Zorg and explained how residents in that area are also suffering. Stabroek News later spoke with residents of Railway View in the area who complained of low water pressure and in some instances, no water at all.
