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Timehri North, Hauraruni residents benefitting from improved water access
Some 6,450 residents of Timehri North and 200 of Hauraruni on the East Bank of Demerara now have improved access to potable water.
These projects were completed as a result of the collaborative efforts between the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the Caribbean Development Bank’s Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), an
Young resident of Timehri North, Princess Rutherford, symbolically turns on a tap in her community while GWI, BNTF and Regional officials look on
implementing and funding agency under the Ministry of Finance.
The works in both communities were executed by S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services and the systems were yesterday officially handed over to GWI during two separate ceremonies.
In the community of Timehri North, the project entailed the installation of PVC transmission mains, flush out points and booster pumps at GWI’s Timehri Pump Station, and was executed at a total cost of $43,012,200 during the period of September 12, 2017 and May 11, 2018.
Residents in the past had to walk considerable distances. The water is now going to their homes.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Managing Director of GWI, Dr. Richard Van West Charles told residents that water quality testing was carried out and the water is safe.
The Community Development Council had reached out to GWI to provide access to potable water and expressed willingness to make contributions towards this end.
He alluded to the heeding of President David Granger’s call to bring equity between the hinterland and the coastland as he noted the priority areas of ensuring access to potable water at health facilities and schools.
The Managing Director acknowledged that there still exist many communities, which lack access to potable water while assuring that the utility is working assiduously to find the resources to provide this access.
The elevated storage facility which was constructed at Hauraruni
Meanwhile, BNTF Project manager, Mr. Dikedemma Utoh stressed the importance of water even as he alluded to this year’s World Water Day theme, “Leaving no one behind.”
He pointed out that no resident of Timehri North was left behind with this intervention.
He stressed that billions of people around the world are still living without access to safe water, which also includes some persons in Guyana.
Timehri North Resident, Colin King expressed gratitude to the BNTF staff, the Government of Guyana and GWI for greatly improving the lives of the residents.
He pointed out that the previous administration had labeled Timehri North as a squatting area and even demolished some of the houses, an act that created emotional trauma of fear and uncertainty. Therefore, the resident noted, efforts to provide the community with access to potable water served to bring some much needed healing.
Mr. King stressed that the success of the project has removed the everyday rigour of early morning and late night fetching of water for domestic use and the health dangers of household self- storage.
Meanwhile, in Hauraruni, the project entailed, among other works, the construction of a well, supply and installation of a PV pumping system, construction of an elevated storage facility and the installation of transmission lines.
This was done between May 2, 2017 and November 22, 2017 at a cost of $24,555,877.
Residents of that community also spoke of the difficulties previously faced in walking long distances to fetch water.
One such resident was Pastor Keeshan Banwarie who outlined the various methods, which were tried over the years for residents to gain access to potable water.
He said that residents also traveled to Timehri to purchase water for drinking but with the intervention, they now have access to water that is safe for drinking. The resident noted that the supply of water is now satisfactory.
Under the project, nine residents were also trained in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. This was done by the BNTF in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Hinterland Electrification Unit of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and GWI.
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