Latest update April 14th, 2026 12:38 AM
GWI invests $500M on water upgrade
Guyana Water Inc’s (GWI) Chief Executive, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, has said that the poor directives and neglect by the previous GWI administration have cost the new administration in excess of $500 million.
Chief Executive of GWI Dr Richard Van-West Charles
This is the sum spent in less than a year ago. He noted that just last week the engineering team discovered a “big” hole in the sleeve of the Eccles, East Bank Demerara, well.
This, he noted, is a problem that is recurring countrywide in some 20 wells. The previous GWI administration headed by Shaik Baksh reportedly issued a directive for carbon-steel sleeve casings to be used in all wells drilled at the time, he said.
The carbon-steel casings corrode at an alarming rate and cause major issues in wells.
Dr Van-West Charles said that the cost for repairs and re-sleeving of those wells is well over the $200 million mark. The fault, he noted, was not on the part of the contractors who were only following instructions from the previous administration.
In addition, the neglect of water filtration systems nationwide under the previous administration was cited as another area that cost the current administration another amount in excess of $200 million.
Good water quality has been identified as a priority, according to Dr Van-West Charles. He said that the filtration system at the Vlissengen Road Shelter Belt was neglected for a number of years and in order to provide the citizens of Georgetown with a high quality of water there was a need to change the filter media at the location.
He noted that the importation of filter media and the cost to install them was also a factor. He continued that there was not only a change of filtration systems in Georgetown but also at Vergenoegen, East Bank of Essequibo and at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara.
The Chief Executive Officer added that repairs to the controversial and faulty Water Treatment Facility in Linden were covered in the stipulated sum.
Dr Van-West Charles assumed office last October. During his 10-month tenure, he has been met with a number of issues including the controversial billboard settlement with Impressions and numerous faulty wells and water treatment facilities.
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