GWI seeking to acquire new headquarters
DPI, GUYANA, Thursday, March 22, 2018
The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is working to construct its own headquarters to negate the rental of several buildings.
Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI) Managing Director, GWI, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles said the utility company is engaging officials to secure resources for GWI’s building in Fort Street Kingston, currently occupied by the Ministry of Public Health.
Managing Director of GWI, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles.
Dr. Van West-Charles indicated, if this plan fails then GWI will then seek to construct its own headquarters on Sherriff Street.
“GWI has an approved organisational chart which is related to our structure and function. We have to find an appropriate place to house our workers so they can carry out their duties. So, it’s either we have a valuation of the building at Fort Street, Kingston and it provides us with resources and then we construct a building which is appropriate for the functions of the organisation. But we do have plans to have one large headquarter.”
Responding to a report that stated that GWI has been renting private buildings totalling $2.5M monthly, inclusive of electricity, Dr. Van West-Charles said: “there is nothing luxurious about the premises we have.”
He clarified that being a utility company, whose functions fall in line with the 21st century, the engineers and other technical professionals must have ample space to function.
The Managing Director explained that GWI’s building, located in Stone Avenue, houses 25 persons. Additionally, the office in Da Silva Street, Kitty, which houses the laboratory and internal audit, has over 20 staff members. The secretariat on Vlissengen Road houses the Strategic Planning, Evaluation and Monitoring Unit, Human Resources Department, Occupation Health Department and the Managing Director’s staff.
Dr. Van West-Charles is of the opinion that the current circumstance does not always allow for a “sufficient degree of confidentiality required in the human resources or welfare departments”.
By: Ranetta La Fleur