Dear Editor,
On the 9th July I sent a letter (‘Contract workers sometimes damage the mains when disconnecting water’) to the Stabroek News and it was published on the 11th July with an Editor’s note indicating that it would be forwarded to the PRO of GWI Timothy Austin for a reply, and to date I haven’t seen the reply. I wondered if it was because the letter was forwarded to Mr Austin, that a team of contract workers from GWI visited the place at Uitvlugt sideline dam where the water was flowing on 10th July to repair it. I spoke to the driver of the vehicle and he was a little annoyed at me but I just ignored his comments and went about my business. On the day the letter was published, another set of people from GWI visited the area and dug up back some of the lines that had been disconnected previously looking to see if they had been reconnected. Some of the same set of GWI workers walked around enquiring from residents for directions as to where I am living. What their reasons were, I don’t know, but perhaps Mr Austin could enlighten me this time.
Editor, what is disturbing is that the same area where they were digging once more, started to leak water again (three house lots, one after another) and as a result of that, the water is lodged at the edge of the newly built road and at one part, vehicles use it to turn around. Because of the water that is lodged there, the corner has been weakened and the road has started to crack up. I figure there will be another waste of money because the crack will get worse and repairs will have to be done. We have GWI telling us not to waste water and they are disconnecting those who haven’t paid their bills. Instead of shutting the water off, the water somehow escapes, so that another contractor gets more work and more money. Whilst the water is wasting, the road is deteriorating, so some road contractor could get another unnecessary contract. From all indications, you can’t talk because they are ready to victimize you, but they should know that Guyanese are not going to sit forever and take it.
Yours faithfully,
Sahadeo Bates
