Mahaicony Residents gain first-time access to potable water
Residents of Esau and Jacob, Mahaicony are happy to be receiving water for the first time, after an intervention by Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Hon. Susan Rodrigues. The community had encountered many failed attempts over the last few years to gain access to potable water. On Friday, October 8, the Minister along with Permanent Secretary Mr. Andre Ally and a team of GWI and Regional officials visited the area to get a first-hand look of the works undertaken.
The Minister explained that a resident by the name of Nyoka Persaud recently reached out to the Ministry to inform them of the struggles they were facing as it relates to potable water access.
To execute the project, the Ministry received assistance from Mr. Jagmohan of Pure Harvest Incorporated. He provided 266 lengths of pipes to facilitate individual service connections to households for the first time. The works were executed by Guyana Water Incorporated in collaboration with Mr. Jagmohan’s workers. This entailed connecting pipelines to the Strath Campbell well station, laying distribution lines and installing individual service connections.
Minister Rodrigues noted that the Ministry is appreciative of the private sector support and community effort to work alongside the GWI to bring immediate relief, explaining that the Ministry did not get to cater for the area in its current budget.
She noted however that her priority is to provide potable water access to unserved communities by the end of the Government’s first term.
Regional Executive Officer of Region Five, Ms. Genevieve Blackman; Region Five Chairman, Mr. Vickchand Ramphal and residents expressed their gratitude for the timely intervention, while adding that it would provide major relief to the community.
Prior to the installation of service connections, residents relied on the rain and purchased water during the dry season, since the nearby river provides does not provide fresh water.