Housing Ministry to engage GWI on potable water for Moblissa

-Minister Rodrigues at Presidential outreach

Minister within Ministry of Housing and Water, Hon. Susan Rodrigues, today, pledged to engage the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) on crafting a comprehensive plan to ensure that residents of Moblissa, Soesdyke-Linden Highway can access potable water.  The Minister made this statement during an engagement with residents, which formed part of a Presidential outreach to the Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region 10). 

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali led a team of Cabinet members to the Region to engage the regional administration and residents on matters affecting them, with the view of finding sustainable solutions.

During the meeting at the Moblissa Primary School, residents told Minister Rodrigues that the community’s creek is their primary source of water. They also harvest rainwater to meet their needs.  

In response, the Minister said the Government will remedy this situation.

“I will need to discuss with the Region’s Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to create a comprehensive plan to alleviate … this problem. The time for sitting is over as infrastructure brings development which focus on electricity, water, road and so on to better the lives of our citizens.

Minister Rodrigues said the plan would include the impacts, beneficiaries and other aspects.

Fifty-six-year-old farmer, Mr. Rolston Reece thanked the Minister for this intervention, explaining that this matter had long been a challenge.  

“I have lived in this community since I was 15 and the need for water has been an issue. We cannot do it ourselves financially and so we need some help from the PPP/C Government to tackle this for us because farmers like myself are suffering,” he said.

Mr. Muhammed Haroon, President of the PPP/C Group in the Region agreed. He noted that the previous administration had promised to address the matter to no avail, despite some infrastructural work being done.

Meanwhile, GWI’s Regional Manager, Mr. Rawle Friday said the agency had rehabilitated one of the community’s wells and had erected a trestle. However, plans to install four, 1000-gallon tanks to store water and a pipeline network during the first and second phases of the project were postponed.

Mr. Friday said those plans need to be readjust since the location of the trestle would not enable all residents to access water.

Following an assessment of the existing structure, Minister Rodrigues said while there are challenges, the Ministry is up to the task.

Member of Parliament, Hon. Alister Charlie also attended the meeting.