APNU+AFC Member Vinceroy Jordan said he is disappointed that villages such as Maruranau, Semonie, Quiko and Rupertee are without functioning water wells despite Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal’s announcement that 96 percent water coverage was achieved with an investment of $1 billion.
Jordan lamented on Friday at his party’s press conference in Congress Place, Sophia that during the opposition’s six-day visit to the Rupununi (Region Nine) this month, many residents revealed that “they have no functioning wells or access to water”. He accused Croal of “misleading the Guyanese people”. He also informed the press that in Aishalton residents have no access to potable water.
“In Maruranau the well is non-functional. In Karasabai there has been no water supply in some sections. In Tiger Pond, for over one year, the residents did not receive any water since the well is non-functional and the pump has since fallen into the well,” Jordan said.
“The coalition government, during its tenure from 2015 to 2020, drilled at least 48 wells across the hinterland regions, which saw many Indigenous communities, for the very first time, receiving potable water. To date the Guyana Water Inc has failed to maintain, upgrade those wells and drill new ones to better serve the communities, thus causing this significant shortage of water in Region Nine.”
Stabroek News spoke with a resident of Maruranau who related that GWI had recently visited the community to drill wells, but they were “inactive”.
The concerned resident who preferred that her identity be withheld said that villagers were dependent on hand dug wells to access water, but this was transient due to the prolonged dry season. She told this newspaper that many residents, following the Opposition’s visit, had raised these concerns as many families were in dire need of potable water.
Jordan also lambasted Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud over the protracted period pensioners in Region Nine wait before they can access their old age pensions. He stated that this was unacceptable and speaks to uncaring and nonchalant behaviour towards people of Indigenous descent.
The suspected arson on the main bridge in Karasabai Village last Tuesday while Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton, Chairman of the Guyana Action Party Vincent Henry and other party executives like Jordan, Joan Romascindo, and Mervyn Williams were on community outreach there was raised.
Norton in response said that he was thankful that the fire did not impede the community outreach.
He said that “many residents in the community expressed alarm over the incident and are calling for a thorough investigation to identify the perpetrators”.
