“No more fetching water from long distances’

―One year on D’ Urban Backlands residents commend GWI

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, January 28, 2020.

Residents of D’ Urban Backlands, Burnham Drive Annex have access to potable water following the drilling of a well and commissioning of 29 standpipes by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in 2019.

In March, then Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, and GWI’s Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles visited the community to commission the pipes. Almost a year on the residents relayed to DPI that the measures to address the water in their community were appreciated.

Small-scale businesswoman, Onica Trim has been living in the area for more than five years. She recalled the burden of having to fetch water from long distance to carry out her domestic chores.

“It has helped a lot. One hundred percent! Because it was not easy fetching water from one place to here. Now we don’t have to wait in line to fetch water to our homes, we have standpipes in our backyard, and I have seen a weight removed from my fellow neighbours’ shoulders; we are no longer neglected,” Trim remarked.

Kyle Solomon, who has been living in the community for more than six years, said the government intervention had transformed the area.

“The community has been in existence for decades, and we were subjected to some very degrading conditions, where we reserved water from trenches. It is under the auspices of this government and the direction of Dr. Richard Van West-Charles that for the first time ever the residents have access to potable water,” Solomon said.

The residents of D’ Urban Backlands, Burnham Drive Annex are also beneficiaries of solar streetlights and upgraded alleyways made possible through the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, and free Wi-Fi which was set up by the Ministry of Public Telecommunications in November.

It was disclosed that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure would be upgrading the community’s access road before the end of this month.

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