A Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) worker was on Tuesday threatened with a cutlass by an occupant of a Cove and John, East Coast Demerara property, where he had gone to disconnect the water supply.
The incident occurred at Lot 59 Craig Milne, Cove and John, which was scheduled for disconnection, and the company yesterday condemned threats to its staff by the public and vowed to pursue the prosecution of anyone who threatens or harms its workers.
In a statement issued by the company yesterday, GWI’s Divisional Revenue Manager for the East Coast Demerara, Malica Dowlin, said that contractor Miles Moore was approached by an occupant of the Cove and John household, who brandished a cutlass and threatened Moore with bodily harm if he executed the disconnection.
As a result, GWI contacted the Cove and John Police Station and the occupant of the home, whose name was not provided, was arrested and placed in police custody at the station. GWI said it was unaware whether the individual arrested was the account holder stated in the company’s customer database.
In response to the episode, GWI’s Chief Executive Officer Nigel Niles stated that the company’s management “strongly condemns” any threats to the employees or contractors by customers. “The company will explore all legal avenues to thoroughly prosecute any customer who threatens or harms any worker conducting business on behalf of GWI,” he was quoted as saying, while adding that disconnection teams have been dispatched countrywide and any threats by customers can result in an arrest by police and subsequent prosecution.
Niles warned that customers must place priority on ensuring that their water service charges are paid in full and he noted that the company has consistently reminded customers that its country-wide disconnection campaign is ongoing. He added that GWI’s management continues to be surprised at the amount of disconnected customers who call or post via social media that they were unaware of a disconnection campaign. Nevertheless, he said there is a strict policy that all delinquent customers will be disconnected if no attempt is made to pay all arrears or sign up for a “Wallet-Friendly Payment Plan”.
