Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali told Bushlot and Waterloo residents that water tariffs have not been increased and urged them to pay their due while outlining plans in train for Region Five.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release Ali and a team including officials from the ministry, Region Five Chairman Harrinarine Baldeo and Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) CEO Karan Singh and officials from the water sector hosted an outreach exercise in the areas.

The minister told residents that they must cooperate to sustain the agency as “If you don’t pay it is pushing us to increase tariff.” He charged them to be responsible and pay the sums they owe “then we will have a more equitable distribution of the cost and we will be able to generate more money.” The minister said too the agency hopes to be able to sustain itself by 2012.

Residents said they were satisfied with the water supply in the area but they used the opportunity to voice concerns about issues affecting them such as acquiring transports, non-occupancy of house lots and the fact that some persons possess several house lots.

In response, Ali assured them that the issues will be addressed and mechanisms will be put in place to effectively deal with the matters highlighted. He said too GWI will soon be embarking on an aggressive campaign in the region to collect revenue and urged residents to pay their water rates. Ali said the ministry will be installing meters under their work programme this year. This is being done to ensure that persons conserve and that they have equal opportunity and access to water.

Meanwhile Singh said about $600 million has been allocated this year for the region which will soon benefit from a new water treatment facility. He said too GWI will also be upgrading distribution systems and installing new service connections. Singh said about $75 million will be spent and an additional $20 million will be used to upgrade and link the Bath settlement with transmission lines to serve the new housing areas that are being developed.