Sugar workers of Bath Settlement downed tools early on Saturday morning in protest at a water shortage that has been plaguing them for almost two weeks and called for the return of the service by the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund Com-mittee (SILWFC).
The workers, attached to the Blairmont Estate assembled in front of the Regional Chairman; Harrinarine Baldeo’s house and later stormed the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) pump, shouting, “no water, no work” and “we are not paying for quarter service; we want a full supply…”
They said that no one is telling them what the problem is even though the water company would place disconnection notices on television promptly. But shortly after they entered the compound that houses the pump, anger erupted.
They told this newspaper that they observed that an eight-inch impeller – which sources the water from the underground well – has been replaced by another, six inches in diameter, resulting in “little trickles which last for about two hours per day.”
According to them the impeller was previously switched and it was only returned after they protested.
Chairman of the Bath/ Woodley Park Neighbour-hood Democratic Council, Cecil Ramdatt told this newspaper that he contacted an official from GWI and learnt that “one of the impellers has malfunctioned and the other is not functioning at all.” He also said that efforts are being made to have the problems rectified.
Stabroek News attempted to solicit a comment from Baldeo who was present at the well when the residents stormed the facility but he responded, “I have no comments for the papers now. I have to resolve an issue.”
Bisnauth Persaud, a workers’ representative residing in the village said they have to purchase water from a private truck for $1,000 per barrel and not everyone can afford that. He said workers have to leave home around 3 am and some do not have enough water to use for cooking and bathing. Another representative, Mansram Brijlall said the workers raised the issue with the general manager of the estate who contacted GWI and learnt that there was an electrical problem and it was expected to be fixed on Friday last.
He said some residents are forced to fetch water from trenches for household chores and that the children have already started to get sick.
He also made a request for the authorities to provide them with “water to drink and cook” until the problem with the pump is rectified. He said his neighbours went to his home for water to cook and he gave them a little from what he had.
Residents related that for the past three months they have not been getting an adequate supply of water but the problem worsened recently. They said if GWI is unable to provide an adequate supply “then they should let SILWFC take over again.”
They said too that when SILWFC was operating and it encountered a problem, they were allowed to go into the compound and fill their buckets. But they are unable to do so at the GWI well as the gates were always closed. (Shabna Ullah)
