Essequibo Coast potable water supply to be boosted

Essequibo Coast villages from Walton Hall to Queenstown have been targeted for improved potable water supply under a major project being implemented with support from the World Bank.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release about 5,000 consumers from about 20 villages in the Region Two area are expected to benefit. Minister of Housing and Water Harrinarine Nawbatt updated residents on the works during a visit to the area last week Monday. He was accompanied by a team of officials from the ministry and the Regional Administra-tion including Chairman Ali Baksh. Meetings were also held at Charity, Anna Regina and Suddie, the three main areas in the region.

Currently, the ministry is focusing on upgrading the distribution network in the targeted areas through trench-crossing and by installing mains in areas that do not have such infrastructure. This phase of the project began last month and is expected to be completed by March/April.

In addition, the design-build contract for the construction of the water treatment plant, which is one of the project’s main components, has been awarded. It is expected that construction of the plant will be completed by mid-2009. This aspect of the project includes drilling an additional well at Lima. Another important phase of the project; the installation of transmission mains to take the water from the treatment plant to the end of the distribution system, is currently up for approval. When this aspect has been completed, even if it is before the treatment plant, the communities will benefit from improved water supply. Approval for installing the distribution mains will lead to the final phase; the metering of all consumers.

Meanwhile, residents also voiced concerns about various housing matters including the non-response to several applications for house lots and delays in the granting of titles. In response, the minister explained the various methodologies being implemented region-wide to address the long list of applicants. He also updated residents on ongoing efforts to address some of the problems facing the housing sector.

It was noted that action is being taken to repossess house lots from persons who have not completed payments and/or who have not occupied their lands even after allocation was granted for several years. According to GINA reference was made to some persons who were allocated house lots and have since migrated or moved to another part of the country, where they have again obtained lots. The repossession process is intended to ensure that more persons, who are genuinely in need of house lots, are given the opportunity.

Nawbatt also said persons who are experiencing difficulties either with regard to payments or occupancy can visit the ministry to make arrangement to address these problems.