Taking service to the people

─ 29 Standpipes installed

─ sanitation will be improved in the community.

─ residents urged to care and water system to prevent contamination.

─ urged to report any leakages.

DPI, Guyana, Saturday, March 23, 2019.

The small Durban Backlands community that can be found behind the China Embassy, located on Mandela Avenue, has been in existence for more than forty years and is made up largely of squatters

However, for the first time, the residents are witnesses of the Government progress to provide the good life for every Guyanese, as they received potable water for the first time, through the installation of 29 standpipes.

On Saturday afternoon, Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Managing Director of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Dr. Richard Van West-Charles visited the community to commission the pipes in.

The more than 150 residents gathered were reassured of other plans in the pipeline for their community. Members of the community who welcomed the initiative said for years they lived without water and thanked the Government on their first step to developing the community.

“We are happy and proud, it is long-awaited, this Government has made us proud and now our elders, wives and children can have water for their use,” one of the residents mentioned.

Noting that Guyana observed World Water Day on March 22, under the theme, “No one left behind” Dr. Van West-Charles said that there will be a number of initiatives in place to develop the community.

“Water is a very essential component and although the community is not fully regularised it is our responsibility to protect the health of everyone, especially the children,” he said.

The Managing Director also highlighted sanitation as the other issue that will be addressed in the community, since to the eastern end of the community, the Conservancy can be found. He emphasised that it is very important that pollution and infiltration be kept under control to improve sanitation within the community.

“All I ask of you is to care the infrastructure, if there are leaks, please get in contact with us, so that we can fix it, the lines must not be damaged,” he stressed.

Dr. Van West-Charles noted that according to the Sustainable Development Goals, by 2020, everyone must achieve equitable access to safe and affordable water.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, reassured the residents that every community will be given the necessities needed.

We have delivered water to some of the far-flung areas of Guyana. We have now been able to deliver potable water to over eight communities in the south of the Rupununi, where during the dry months, there are droughts and during the rainy months, there are floods. However, this was done through the collaboration with the Brazilian Government, Guyana Defence Force and Guyana Water Incorporated.”

Minister Harmon said the commissioning is a tangible demonstration of the Government’s commitment to ensuring that life’s necessities are delivered to the people of Guyana.

Ayana George.

Images: Marceano Narine.

CATEGORIES
TAGS