Water sector successes, future goals highlighted - at commissioning of Cummings Lodge well station
Georgetown, GINA, October 14, 2011
Source - GINA
Residents of Cummings Lodge, Region Four, at the commissioning of a new well in the community
The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has been steadfast in ensuring all Guyanese have access to potable water as evidenced by the construction and installation of numerous wells and distribution lines across the country. GWI with support from Government and Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) was instrumental in establishing another well, this time at Cummings Lodge, Region 4, which will benefit more than 15,000 people in Cummings Lodge and A, B, C, D and E Fields Sophia.
In another three days more than 1000 new customers will be connected to the system for the first time and will have access to potable water.
This is the transformational nature, projects like these bring to communities, Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali said at today’s commissioning ceremony.
He referred to the launch of an aggressive plan that sought to widen the coverage of persons having access to water and to improve and up-grade the delivery of water.
Water sector achievements
He highlighted the water sector’s achievements during the last five years including an expenditure of more than $3.6B in Region 4, and has resulted in the improvement of access to water from 71 percent to 98 percent.
In the hinterland Regions, Government has invested more than $600M benefiting more that 55,000 people with a movement in access from 25 percent to 67 percent. Additionally, 25 photovoltaic pumping systems were installed, 22 new trestles and 52 new portable water wells were constructed.
Minister Ali pointed out that along the coast 18 new wells were completed at a cost of $1.2B and has resulted in increased flow and pressure of water. There was an addition of more than 30,000 new households to the system along the coast, due to the very strong housing drive that has created expanding demand for other services including electricity, water and telecommunications.
Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali and Project Manager, Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), Michael Singh is joined by a Cummings Lodge youth to unveil the plaque
By the end of 2010 the customer base had increased from 150,000 to 180,000. An investment of $7B was spent on the expansion of the network and servicing 27,000 new customers. Importantly, tariff subsidies for vulnerable people particularly pensioners have been continuous.
Minister Ali emphasised that in the next five years the sector intends to construct two new state-of-the-art and environmentally friendly water treatment plants in Linden, a $2B investment, rehabilitation of the sewage system in Georgetown, drilling of 20 bore-holes that will benefit 60,000 people, expand treated water coverage, allocate $1B to the hinterland, continued subsidised payments for vulnerable groups, and realize the full implementation of the integrated water resource management system,
At today’s commissioning Minister Ali recognised that the Government’s approach to development is one which seeks out partnerships, community collaboration and involvement of people in the development, implementation, and more importantly ensuring sustainability and viability of all these works.
Minister Ali emphasised that this GOG/BNTF project plays an important role in transforming the infrastructural landscape of the water sector, and is a fulfilled promise made last year to the Sophia community with the aim providing improved services.
Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali turns on a faucet symbolising the operationalisation of the new well at Cummings Lodge
He acknowledged that while improvements are made to the network there are a lot of difficulties due to people tampering with the network. As a result of the challenges three sets of contractors were employed to do repairs and to realign the distribution network so as to make the well effective and efficient. This process ensures there are reduced leakages and wastage of water, and health issues.
Minister Ali explained that during the next two weeks GWI will be carrying out a testing phase to ensure that the network is tight thereby maintaining health standards and requirements, and ensures there are no leakages in the system.
Project Manager - BNTF, Michael Singh pointed out that the fund’s programmes look at the reduction of vulnerability in a sustainable and gender sensitive manner, people living in poor communities through the conservation of the stock of social and economic infrastructure, the improvement of human resources through skills development and social readjustment and the promotion of community organisations and their capacity for the initiation and management of change.
He highlighted that the BNTF’s fifth cycle allotted the greatest amount of money to the water sector (32 percent) as part of its poverty reduction action plan. Additionally, in BNTF cycle 6 a higher percentage (34 percent) is designated towards water.
Meanwhile the organisation is executing several projects in collaboration with GWI in the hinterland areas and shortly drilling will commence for a new well and installation of distribution lines in Good Fortuin and Wakenaam.
Georgetown, GINA, October 14, 2011
Source - GINA
Residents of Cummings Lodge, Region Four, at the commissioning of a new well in the communityThe Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has been steadfast in ensuring all Guyanese have access to potable water as evidenced by the construction and installation of numerous wells and distribution lines across the country. GWI with support from Government and Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) was instrumental in establishing another well, this time at Cummings Lodge, Region 4, which will benefit more than 15,000 people in Cummings Lodge and A, B, C, D and E Fields Sophia.
In another three days more than 1000 new customers will be connected to the system for the first time and will have access to potable water.
This is the transformational nature, projects like these bring to communities, Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali said at today’s commissioning ceremony.
He referred to the launch of an aggressive plan that sought to widen the coverage of persons having access to water and to improve and up-grade the delivery of water.
Water sector achievements
He highlighted the water sector’s achievements during the last five years including an expenditure of more than $3.6B in Region 4, and has resulted in the improvement of access to water from 71 percent to 98 percent.
In the hinterland Regions, Government has invested more than $600M benefiting more that 55,000 people with a movement in access from 25 percent to 67 percent. Additionally, 25 photovoltaic pumping systems were installed, 22 new trestles and 52 new portable water wells were constructed.
Minister Ali pointed out that along the coast 18 new wells were completed at a cost of $1.2B and has resulted in increased flow and pressure of water. There was an addition of more than 30,000 new households to the system along the coast, due to the very strong housing drive that has created expanding demand for other services including electricity, water and telecommunications.
Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali and Project Manager, Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), Michael Singh is joined by a Cummings Lodge youth to unveil the plaqueBy the end of 2010 the customer base had increased from 150,000 to 180,000. An investment of $7B was spent on the expansion of the network and servicing 27,000 new customers. Importantly, tariff subsidies for vulnerable people particularly pensioners have been continuous.
Minister Ali emphasised that in the next five years the sector intends to construct two new state-of-the-art and environmentally friendly water treatment plants in Linden, a $2B investment, rehabilitation of the sewage system in Georgetown, drilling of 20 bore-holes that will benefit 60,000 people, expand treated water coverage, allocate $1B to the hinterland, continued subsidised payments for vulnerable groups, and realize the full implementation of the integrated water resource management system,
At today’s commissioning Minister Ali recognised that the Government’s approach to development is one which seeks out partnerships, community collaboration and involvement of people in the development, implementation, and more importantly ensuring sustainability and viability of all these works.
Minister Ali emphasised that this GOG/BNTF project plays an important role in transforming the infrastructural landscape of the water sector, and is a fulfilled promise made last year to the Sophia community with the aim providing improved services.
Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali turns on a faucet symbolising the operationalisation of the new well at Cummings LodgeHe acknowledged that while improvements are made to the network there are a lot of difficulties due to people tampering with the network. As a result of the challenges three sets of contractors were employed to do repairs and to realign the distribution network so as to make the well effective and efficient. This process ensures there are reduced leakages and wastage of water, and health issues.
Minister Ali explained that during the next two weeks GWI will be carrying out a testing phase to ensure that the network is tight thereby maintaining health standards and requirements, and ensures there are no leakages in the system.
Project Manager - BNTF, Michael Singh pointed out that the fund’s programmes look at the reduction of vulnerability in a sustainable and gender sensitive manner, people living in poor communities through the conservation of the stock of social and economic infrastructure, the improvement of human resources through skills development and social readjustment and the promotion of community organisations and their capacity for the initiation and management of change.
He highlighted that the BNTF’s fifth cycle allotted the greatest amount of money to the water sector (32 percent) as part of its poverty reduction action plan. Additionally, in BNTF cycle 6 a higher percentage (34 percent) is designated towards water.
Meanwhile the organisation is executing several projects in collaboration with GWI in the hinterland areas and shortly drilling will commence for a new well and installation of distribution lines in Good Fortuin and Wakenaam.
