-commits to bringing solution to electricity and water woes

The Honourable Susan Rodrigues, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water on Tuesday engaged residents of New Forest, East Canje, Berbice.

This is in keeping with a commitment by His Excellency, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali during a cabinet outreach last week, to give residents of this community an opportunity to meet with Minister Rodrigues on key issues affecting their daily lives. The engagement with Minister Rodrigues also forms part of a larger assessment being conducted in several communities within Region Six to address their needs.

New Forest is predominantly a farming community with twenty (20) households, which have been without potable water and electricity for decades. Minister Rodrigues told residents while there is a macro development plan for the region, it is incumbent on the administration to ensure that the needs of smaller communities are met.

“I am here today to ensure that your issues are addressed…we must ensure that no matter how few you are in a community you are catered to.”

The Minister added that it is imperative that the basic needs of citizens are met.

“Everybody’s wellbeing must be taken care of; water and electricty are essential and it saddens me you’ve had to endure this but we are here to find a solution,” the Minister told residents of New Forest.

As part of resolving the water issue, Minister Rodrigues told residents that an immediate assessment will be done by an electrical engineer and an engineer attached to the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI). Residents were further assured that while the assessment is being done the possibility of a short term solution will be explored to bring relief to residents, as they currently rely on rain and the Canje Creek for water. As such, discussions were also held on reviving an old pump station in the area and engaging the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) for electricity supply.

Meanwhile, in another meeting held at the Betsy Ground Primary School, residents of Betsy Ground and Gangaram also lamented the current water situation. The two communities are supplied with water from Rose Hall, however, they related that the water is not fit for human consumption. A fraction of the residents, therefore, indicated their willingness to pay for water from GWI as they currently receive water free of cost from the Estate.  A number of residents also highlighted issues concerning low water supply.

To this, the Minister assured that she will engage the estate on improving the water quality. Also, starting tomorrow a team from GWI will begin an assessment in Gangaram and Betsy Ground to fix all leaks along the water distribution network, which will address the issue of low water supply in the areas.

Several other concerns were raised and a commitment was made to have those issues forwarded to the various sector heads.
Accompanying the Minister were Regional Chairman, Mr. David Armogan, Regional Housing Officer- Central Housing and Planning Authority, Ms Kristina Muthusami, Guyana Water Inc. Regional Manager- Mr. Randolph Leitch and an Engineer attached to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.