Dear Editor,
We the residents of Adelaide Street, Charlestown, continue to be subjected to the most humiliating stench, due to the overflowing of sewage from the gully and chambers. Several visits from the GWI staff who pumped out the sewage, seem to have been an exercise in futility, as the overflow continues.
It would appear that one of the main contributing factors is that a neighbour broke my fence when I was not at home, and had his sewerage system attached to mine, and despite several complaints GWI failed to address the matter.
The overflow returns after a few hours or days following the clearing exercise carried out by Puran Bros. Thanks to General Manager, Mr Joseph and the staff of GWI who rendered assistance, but despite promises no real relief seems to be forthcoming.
I am therefore appealing to the authorities to remedy this situation by installing a pump in the Charlestown area so as to bring an end to the affected citizens. If this situation is allowed to continue, it could result in a serious outbreak of disease in the community.
Yours faithfully,
Charles Conway
Editor’s note
We sent a copy of this letter to Guyana Water Inc for any comment they might wish to make, and received the following response from Ms Lavern Fredericks-McPherson, Assistant Public Relations Officer of Guyana Water Inc:
“Thank you for sharing with us a letter from a concerned customer in the Charlestown area. The Guyana Water Incorporated is aware of the sewer related problems in Adelaide Street, Charles-town and is working assiduously to remedy these problems in the shortest possible time. The company understands the frustration of the resident in not receiving the anticipated solution with the expedition he envisions.
However the company has dispatched a team headed by Engineer Wayne Langford to the Charlestown area to address the technical problems within the area.
“As it relates to the request of the resident for a new sewer station, there is no need for such a sewer station in the area since there are already two functional stations serving the residents of Charlestown, one on the corners of Princes and Camp streets and another on the corners of Russell and Sussex streets.
“The works within the area should be completed within the next thirty days and that will bring significant relief to the residents of this area. As is the case in most of the areas in Georgetown, the problems are most often due to the improper use of the system by residents, resulting in blockages within the sewer lines and persons constructing properties over important sewer inspection chambers preventing access to the chambers to affect maintenance works.
“The company takes this opportunity to appeal to the residents to avoid dumping unwanted material into the system, enclosing any chamber in their yards that is below the level of the yard and by so doing preventing GWI from entering the system, and being on the lookout for any residents conducting any form of illegal connection to the sewer station and to alert the authority since these actions often affect the surrounding residents.“
