GWI, Suriname Water Management partnership fruitful

GINA, GUYANA

Friday, August 19, 2016

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the Suriname Water Management (SWM) have had a week of fruitful discussions through the Water Partnership Programme. A visiting delegation from the Surinamese company also toured GWI’s facilities in several regions.

Chief Executive Officer, Guyana Water Incorporated, Dr. Richard Van West - Charles.

Chief Executive Officer, Guyana Water Incorporated, Dr. Richard Van West – Charles.

During a press briefing today, at GWI’s Head Office, Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, GWI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Richard Van West – Charles said that the partnership has allowed for a good exchange between the two companies. He explained that while water analysis is the first step in setting up a treatment plant, the design is very important.

Dr. Van West-Charles explained, “We are taking water from two sources, the ground and surface, but it’s from one design, so that adds to the problems we have been having.”

Through the sharing of ideas and experiences with visiting delegation, GWI was able to identify some areas on which it can improve, the CEO said. One of the areas is the replacement of stainless steel and fiber glass with the use of PVC casing in the construction of the treatment plants, fashioned like those in Suriname and the Netherlands.

Further, Van West-Charles highlighted that both teams are looking forward for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which will outline a better working relation.

Meanwhile, Jerrol Ferrier, head of the visiting SWM delegation and the Western Regions thanked the GWI for hosting the visiting team and expressed satisfaction with the knowledge shared between the members. Ferrier also noted that he was looking forward to continue working with Guyana, primarily in the hinterland communities.

Additionally, Sophie Makonnen, Inter-American Development Bank, Country Representative noted that the Bank has been partially supporting water partnerships in Latina America and the Caribbean for the past 12 years. She added that the bank lauds such partnerships and will continue to lend its support.

 

 

 

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