Dear Editor,
It’s unlikely anyone will miss the massive PR work of the so called development government is executing daily and their boasts. While these massive projects cost a tremendous amount of money, a majority are tainted with corruption and incompetence. Meanwhile, the government continues to forge ahead, showing no regards for the hard economic situation the average man faces daily. Despite the massive spending to upgrade government agencies, most of the staff still grab onto the notion that you have to ‘grease’ their hands to get a legitimate service from them or plan on some sort of fictitious waiting list if you refuse to support their greed.
Editor, on the 9th of January, I visited GWI’s office at Pouderoyen, WBD with a friend to apply for a service in Tuschen New Scheme. Incredibly, she was told that in two weeks a GWI official will visit the location. They will make contact with the applicant who can go in make payment for the service and after, GWI will install the service. I find it comical to think of such a time wasting process. Why do they have to go and inspect the location, when it’s a developing scheme, and neighbours are getting water? GWI have a computerized system and I’m very sure they have data of individuals (and they are instructed to walk with the relevant documents to show ownership) and the layout of each village. GWI gives out many contracts to contractors and it would be a blatant disrespect for them to claim that there is a backlog of work.
In my eyes, a system is in place to facilitate corruption, because if you approach the right individuals, with the right amount of money, you can get a water system install the same day or next day. To date, no official went to inspect the land or made any call. Every time you call to query, they are telling you that your info was forwarded to the department responsible. Why are they taking so long to give you a service that you are paying for? Some road to progress!
Sincerely,
Sahadeo Bates
