Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal on Saturday commissioned an upgraded water distribution system at St. Ignatius, in Region Nine.
The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) said the upgrade, for which a $20 million contract was signed just over a month ago, saw the installation of 4-inch transmission mains to provide an adequate volume of water to feed the network, and the interconnecting of three wells, which will now serve the entire village.
In a press release, the CH&PA noted that a total of 4 kilometers of 4-inch PVC transmission mains and 500 meters of 2-inch PVC lines were installed, which will now see some 125 residents accessing water for the first time. With the completion of the upgrade, residents have reported that the level of service has since increased drastically.
It added that with the upgrade residents now receive a minimum of 12 hours of service per day.
According to the release, Croal also announced that to bring better service delivery, as of August 1, 2021, Guyana Water Incorporated will be paying for the electricity supply for the water system, thus easing the financial burden on the village council.
Croal also spoke of the villages of Toka, Katoonarib, Potarinau, and Parikwarinau, which have all benefited from new water distribution systems and the construction of a new $23 million GWI/housing office in Lethem, to ensure improved services.
“We are ensuring that water is delivered to every household as outlined in the Millennium Development Goals. We will continue in our efforts to match hinterland development with those on the coastland.”
He also implored residents to play their part in safeguarding the water infrastructure. He noted that far too often breakage and leakage result in losses and defective services.
He added, “Cabinet recently give it’s no object for a Community Service Officer to be assigned to the water system and oversee its operation in every village”.
During the commissioning on Saturday, Croal lauded the contractor, Romesh Kissoon, of R. Kissoon Contracting Services, for the timely delivery of the project. He added that the speedy completion of the project is reflective of how the government operates in terms of fulfilling its commitment to communities across the country.
The release noted that Kissoon also delivered on a promise made when the contract was signed to hand over ten electronic tablets to school children and a complete computer system to the St. Ignatius Village Council.
