‘Citizens must stand up against this type of lawlessness’- Dr Van West-Charles on attacks on GWI disconnection crew

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DPI, GUYANA, Friday, March 16, 2018

Managing Director of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Dr. Richard Van West-Charles, today condemned the recent attacks on a disconnection crew.

Dr. Van West-Charles was speaking at a press conference at GWI’s Shelterbelt, Vlissingen Road, Georgetown. According to the Managing Director, an irate resident in Buxton allegedly threatened the staff, initially, on Wednesday with a cutlass.

Managing Director of GWI, Dr Richard Van West-Charles.

Then on Thursday, the alleged attacker torched the crew’s vehicle. The police have since intervened in the matter. Dr. Van West-Charles noted this recent incident has sparked the need for police protection in areas deemed ‘high risk’.

“Wherever we assess that there is a high risk we will alert the police through our security consultants which we have on staff, and they will support us in this approach,” Dr. Van West-Charles said.

There have been four attacks on GWI field staff last year, particularly on the East Coast of Demerara, GWI’s Managing Director noted. He explained that the crew’s work is part of the process to improve GWI’s services and is calling on residents not to encourage “this level of lawlessness” that occurred on Thursday.

“It is inevitable that one would see this activity across the country in all of the regions nothing specific to the village of Buxton, nothing specific to any one geographic area, one ethnic grouping, one religious grouping,” Dr Van West-Charles said.

GWI will also increase its sensitisation during outreaches with residents to build understanding on the importance of letting field staff conduct their work unhindered. Dr Van West-Charles said the company will also engage Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) to ensure this understanding is built.

The crew that was attacked on Thursday.

 

By: Tiffny Rhodius

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