-Ali
Too many consumers are still not paying water bills, Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali reported yesterday.
Speaking at a year end press conference, Ali said Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) was able to mop up more revenue this year but noted that collection covers mostly public companies and entities. He said the situation is of great concern to the company, noting that in 2008 GWI had only collected 50% of total billing.
He revealed that there was a 15% increase this year but said it was not indicative of more private consumers coming on board to clear their accounts.
Ali did, however, acknowledge that the company has had difficulties with its billing system and he said to correct this situation it is currently being audited and this would see more frequent meter readings. He said this would be done at least every quarter.
According to Ali, there has been much improvement over the last year, but one of the challenges remains the prospects for the distribution of treated water. This is being looked at in the year ahead, he said. More than $4.2 billion was invested in the sector and $315 million was spent to ensure more customers are metered. In this area, he said GWI installed 20,000 meters, four thousand more than its target.
Meanwhile, the GWI strategic plan also envisaged the improvement of the reliability of the sewerage system. He said the failure of a contractor to deliver on his contractual obligations to supply pumps for the sewerage network resulted in a setback. However, the ministry was forced to retender for the items internationally. Some of the pumps have since arrived and the remainder should be here by January 19.
Ali spoke on the issue of vandalism and its impact on the water sector, saying persons have continued to steal important assets. He noted the continued theft of manhole covers, adding that the situation is widening to include galvanised pipes which help to protect the connection network; air valves; and other main components of the water distribution network. He added that persons are also misusing the system and that citizens dump garbage in the manholes. To deal with these issues in the New Year, Ali said government intends to have regulations enforced so that the perpetrators of the acts could be brought to justice. Coupled with this, he said there will have to be more vigilance among law abiding citizens. The possibility of having community rangers at the level of the neighbourhood democratic councils is also an option, Ali revealed. They would deal with the issues of theft and tampering. The system will be piloted and once it works, Ali said it would be expanded.
He noted too the successes of the company’s ‘Camp Resolution’, which was carried out countrywide to address water concerns of consumers.
He said such initiatives would be expanded to continue the level of interaction with customers. The water company is also to move to place more emphasis on instilling in customers the notion of conservation. To expand services the company will be drilling 10 more bore holes and this will also increase its water treatment capacity.
Ali also told reporters that the GWI has bolstered its anti-fraud policy and a similar system was implemented at Ministry of Housing, where there are internal controls.
Housing
Ali lauded the ministry and workers for a job well done during the year as he noted that many targets were superseded. In this regard, he said that the ministry went past its target for house lot distribution by 100%, which he attributed to the ‘One Stop Shop’ system where applications were processed on the spot.
He referred to a “housing boom,” particularly in West Demerara as well as the good relations between the financial institutions and applicants as pluses. He was pleased with the partnerships, which also include the private sector, noting that the ministry will work to expand this.
Meanwhile, Ali also noted that some 3,433 transports and titles have been processed while millions have been spent on the construction of main roads in many housing schemes.
He added that squatting remains a great challenge for the ministry and it is being looked at rigorously. He stated that the ministry has been trying to curb this but noted that some collaborative system would have to be employed.
He stated too that the ministry is in the process of formalising squatter laws, with conditions which should be ready for presentation to the National Assembly next year. Regarding private house developers, Ali informed that while the ministry is part of a private/public partnership, the lands which are allotted to them were not done by the ministry. He said organisations like Habitat for humanity are collaborating with the ministry but allottees still have to go through the ministry system.
