Exclusive ‘Pradoville 2’ without water meters since inception

– first one installed days ago

Mansions such as that of former president Bharrat Jagdeo are expected to have high water consumption with features such as multiple bathrooms and pools

Questions have once again been raised about the ‘Pradoville 2’ community, this time on how the exclusive area managed to go years without the installation of a single water meter. Earlier this week, reports reached this newspaper about this latest scandal. These reports indicate that the controversial community, which has been around for about half a decade, has been without a single Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) meter since its inception. ‘Pradoville 2’ is a residential community at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara which was created under the directive of Former President and now Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. Word of the community first surfaced sometime around 2010. Outside of Jagdeo, several other prominent persons benefitted from the creation of the community by receiving house lots. Since the creation of the exclusive community, a number of mansion-like homes have gone up in the area and these homes have been provided with water by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI). However, the community’s first meter was only recently installed at the premises of People’s Progressive Party (PPP) executive member, Dr. Roger Luncheon. In fact, a special water main was laid for ‘Pradoville 2’ by the GWI in late 2010, this main had been laid even before homes had begun cropping up in the residential community. However, while there was all haste in providing the community with a direct water supply, the same haste was not applied in providing the area with a means to properly account for its huge amount of water consumption. When contacted, a GWI representative explained that the entire area was now undergoing metering. He said that the exercises were part of an ongoing programme which would see GWI customers receiving meters throughout the country. According to the rep, the residential community is not the only area to be without meters. He stated that several other communities, especially along the East Coast corridor, have been without meters. He explained that GWI implemented a new policy about two to three years ago which would see immediate installation of meters upon the installation of water lines. Therefore, he said, persons who received water lines before the new policy were being revisited and having their meters installed. He added that these installations were being conducted in phases, with each community falling under a divisional office. He added that the divisional offices are responsible for the setting up of a schedule to visit specific areas. ‘Pradoville 2’ reportedly falls under the Bachelor’s Adventure divisional office. When questioned on how long it would take for any community to receive meters, the representative stressed that it depended on a number of factors. These include the availability of meters, the availability of personnel to install the meters and how the schedule is set up by the divisional offices. However, he said that areas with treated water supplies were being prioritized due to the fact that treated water was more costly for GWI to supply. ‘Pradoville 2’ reportedly has treated water supplies. Furthermore, when questioned on billing, the GWI official emphasised that the residents in ‘Pradoville 2’ are billed just like anyone else. He explained that the bills are estimated and are based on a fixed rate. He added that the rates differ from community to community. The representative emphasised that the fact that ‘Pradoville 2’ was never metered was not an act of favouritism or bias on the part of GWI and was only due to the phased programme. However, a GWI source hit out at the utility company’s explanation and stressed that it should not take a customer years to receive a meter. The source found it difficult to believe that a schedule would take four or five years to provide even one meter to an entire community. Further, the source questioned why, if treated water supplies are prioritized, ‘Pradoville 2 ‘had never been targeted, especially if its high consumption rates – the community houses several pools – are taken into consideration. The source also opined that the community could not be billed since it is one of the country’s newer ones and would not be on GWI’s list. The source further discounted GWI’s claim that lack of personnel played a role in its slothfulness of providing meters. The source opined that when the time comes for water lines to be disconnected in other areas, GWI immediately finds staff. Additionally, the source questioned why Luncheon, who is one of the community’s newest residents, was the first to be provided with a water meter. In fact, Luncheon’s meter should have been immediately installed since his water supply fell under the new policy, the source said. The ‘Pradoville 2’ deal was recently handed over to the new government’s State Assets Recovery Unit following a request by the Ministry of Housing. The matter is being examined under forensic audits being carried out both at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).