Beginning March 2, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) will begin a national disconnection campaign, targeting those who have not paid their bills.

This was announced at a press briefing yesterday.

The water utility is $6 billion in debt, said Earle Aaron, GWI’s National Revenue Manager. He said that a large percentage of GWI’s customers have not paid their last two bills. Of the utility’s 166,000 consumers, 123,000 owe the company some money and over 91,700 owe $7,000 and more, he stated. Financially, the company has no choice but to pursue this option, Aaron said.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Yuri Chandisingh appealed to customers to pay their bills. He said that the company is pursuing the disconnection programme as “a very last resort”. Those owing the company are urged to contact the company to decide on an appropriate payment plan.

“All we want out of this exercise is for people to pay their fair share,” said Ravin Paltoo, GWI’s director of finance. It was emphasized that those who have not received a bill are not exempt from disconnection.

The campaign comes at a time that the country is experiencing the effects of the dry-weather phenomenon, El Nino.