Residents of Annai and other communities in Region Nine are expected to see improvements in their water supply after Managing Director of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Dr. Richard Van West-Charles committed to remodelling the community’s outdated water system within the first quarter of this year.
According to a press release from GWI, Van West-Charles and Executive Director of Project Implementation and Partnership Building, Ramchand Jailal visited Annai and its sub-regions – Rupertee, Kawatamang and Wowetta – and the villages of Katoonarib and Sawariwau on February 15th and February 16th. Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes and a team of officials also visited the area.
GWI noted the integrity of the infrastructure and “supposed design flaws” of water systems in the hinterland area is of great concern given that some of the systems were constructed many years ago while others were established in the early 2000s but failed early on.
The release explained that residents of Annai said that they receive water for two hours, three days a week from four water systems. The community also has a trestle “that was poorly designed,” which now sits as a monument in the community, while the wells are not producing enough, and some of their structures are rotting.
Van West-Charles and Jailal, GWI noted, assured the residents that the company would do everything in its power to provide both temporary and long term solutions for access to water, with the former committing to remodelling the systems within the first quarter of the year.
“He also promised that the trestle that has become a white elephant will be relocated and put to use. However, as a more immediate intervention, GWI will work to increase water supply hours to the population of over 600 by analysing the capacity of the existing wells,” the release said.
Works will be undertaken in the sub-regions of Annai and will include improving productivity of wells, increase storage capacity, upgrading solar panels, construction of trestles and water quality testing, the release added.
Further, in cases where water sources are needed, Van West-Charles explained that GWI is now in a position to accurately identify sites for drilling, which was made possible through new and innovative logging equipment acquired from Brazil.
“So with the new technology, we will be able to drill more specifically and have more success in a timely manner,” he was quoted as saying.
Additionally, in areas such as Katoonarib and Sawariwau, Van West-Charles told the residents that GWI is not only concerned about water for consumption but also for economic and social wellbeing of the citizens and noted that health centres cannot function without continuous access to potable water.
“As a physician, he sees as priority, the need for water access in facilities such as health posts and schools. At the same time however, he noted the need for water access at facilities such as bakeries and cassava factories, hot meal hubs, farms and more to promote the activities,” the release added, while stating that the GWI team reassured the residents that their water infrastructure that has existed for many years will be examined and rehabilitated where necessary to provide easy access to communities.
The release also said each community was tasked with identifying two servicemen who will be paid to maintain the water systems.
