– Tuseneng residents welcome first ministerial visit in five years

To better serve hinterland communities, Minister of Housing and Water, the Hon. Collin Croal has committed to a need assessment exercise for these communities.

The commitment was made, on Sunday when the Minister conducted meetings in the North Pakaraimas villages of Kato and Tuseneng, Region 8.

Given the peculiar needs of each community and their geographic layout, Minister Croal told residents of Kato that the situation will be assessed by a team from Guyana Water Incorporated and recommendations will be made. These recommendations, he said will guide future budgetary plans for 2021.

Further, the GWI engineers who are based in Paramaktoi, Region 8, will soon be furnished with their own All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) which will aid in carrying out routine operations and maintenance work in villages within North Pakaraimas.

Residents told the Minister of their plight with access to water and pleaded with him for intervention. The village which has a population of approximately 430 persons has an existing water system that includes a well, PV system, elevated storage, distribution network, and standpipes. Residents are accessing water from the existing well within the community, however, the production capacity of the well is limited. As such a new well is required to be drilled and extension of the pipe to provide additional coverage within the community.

A similar situation was brought to the Minister’s attention during his meeting at Tuseneng as residents complained about not having access to potable water. That village also has an existing water supply system which includes a well, PV system, elevated storage, distribution network, and standpipes. However, the extension of the pipe network and additional standpipes and service connections will be required to provide additional coverage to residents.

Residents further asked the Minister to make representation on several other issues affecting them. These issues include the need for an ICT hub, better procurement and delivery system for drugs, the need for a new nursery school building, and employment and training opportunities for youths.

Minister Croal also used the opportunity to speak to the government’s plan for the development of hinterland communities. To rebuild village economies, the Minister told residents of the government’s decision to restore the Community Support Officers Program and to reintroduce the Hinterland Electrification program. This program will see the installation of 25,000 solar systems in villages throughout the country.