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Is this what we call progress

Nov 15, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
Permit me space in your column to air a serious concern in relation to water now being supplied to the residents of Blocks “N”, “X” and “Y” Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara. I am wondering if we are going backward as a nation, or forward.
The residents of Blocks “N” and “X” and Block “Y” (partially) have been receiving treated water supply from the Den Amstel Treatment plant since the scheme, especially Block “N” was developed back in the early 1990’s. Most of the residents of Block “N” are also metered customers.
However, recently with the drilling of a new well in Cornelia Ida, these residents have now started to receive untreated water from the new well instead of the treated water that they were receiving since the development of the said housing scheme. Their supply of treated water has since been cut off without any consultation with them. GWI apparently sighted their reason for doing so as “low water pressure”.
I must say that the well was drilled so as to supply water to residents who were not getting treated water from the Den Amstel Treatment plant, namely most residents of Block “X” and the residents of Hague Settlement (Back Dam), who were not receiving a supply of potable water.
However, all residents of Cornelia Ida are presently receiving untreated water. We the residents are now of the opinion that we are being taken for granted. It was claimed by GWI that there was a meeting that was held with residents to discuss same, but no resident attended the meeting. This is absolutely false and a cover-up for GWI. Residents were not aware or even informed of such a meeting.
Residents are being treated unfairly and are asking that we be given back our usual supply of treated water. We are of the opinion that the untreated water is very unsafe for human use. Studies have revealed that. It is brown and smelly and has a sticky feel on the skin when used to bathe. It also causes itching as experienced by many residents.
To complicate matter, it cannot be used for drinking or cooking and many residents are from the poor, working class and cannot afford to buy bottled water on a regular basis for drinking and cooking. Children’s health is also involved.
I challenge anyone from GWI to say that they can safely use such water for domestic purposes. Maybe we the residents of Cornelia Ida are all four-footed animals that can use any kind of water. I am now wondering if we are going backward or forward. I can understand if we were getting untreated water and now we are being given improvement by way of treated water.
What I cannot begin to comprehend is the reason for cutting off treated water supply for untreated water. This is downright backwardness. Or is this the new form of development and improvement? If so, then I also call on GPL and GT&T, as other utility companies to do same. GPL can “upgrade” us all from electricity to “flambo” lamps or candles, and maybe in terms of communication, GT&T can take back their telephone lines and provide us with conch shells, bells, etc. so that we can effectively communicate.
Bravo GWI. Keep it up. This is what I assume we call “progress”. We the residents need answers from you. We also need our treated water supply be returned to us.
Jagatram Tekchand

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