Minister commissions GWI sewerage pump station

Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali, Friday highlighted the growth of the water sector and said that they will accept constructive criticisms despite a number of challenges daily.


Minister Irfaan Ali (at right) congratulates Mayor Hamilton Green at the commissioning of the sewerage pump station.

He was at the time speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) Sewerage Pump Station “W” at Princes and High Streets, Georgetown.

He added that the water sector is in the process of drafting the Project Document of the Sewerage System in the city.

He said it includes the master plan which will be outfitted with the most modern equipment and will also evaluate the needs of the sewer system.

Minister Ali stated that during a recent visit to Tehran, he noted their use of human waste which is being converted to electricity and said such a long-term plan is being considered for the sector.

He spoke of various investments being undertaken by the water sector and disclosed that $1.1B was pumped into the 2002 Government of Guyana project which saw a number of works completed.

Approximately $85M was invested for the construction of the Tucville Sewerage Pump Station, the linking of the force main line in central Georgetown at a cost of $40M, the Kingston Outfall at $400M, the procurement of the sewer system at $40M, and the procurements of the street sewers at $80M and $100M respectively.

He announced that 24 pump stations are being rehabilitated at a cost of $170M and urged residents not to dump waste such as machines and other materials into the system.

Minister Ali also appealed to big businesses such as hotels and restaurants to invest $50,000 to acquire grease traps for their businesses which will significantly reduce an overload into the system.

He disclosed too that they will enforce regulations and take up a no-nonsense approach to defaulters who abuse the sewerage system and take the necessary action to curb such lawlessness.

He also noted the dedicated work by GWI employees and said that there are indeed major improvements in the sector.

The Minister urged residents of the Georgetown to be responsible and to act as guardians of the new facility.

“Users of the sewerage system continue to abuse it,” stated Minister Ali. “If persons continue to dump garbage and other harmful materials into the system, then facilities like this will yield no improvements. Beneficiaries of this project must take ownership of these facilities and report those who seek to abuse the system – it’s time we truly seek to restore the city to its former glory and this can only happen by adopting responsible attitudes.”

Approximately 2,500 residents of Charlestown, and surrounding environs will benefit from the new Sewerage Pump Supply and Sewerage Programme 11. Funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), this component of the programme seeks to significantly enhance the sanitation system in the city. A total of 24 sewerage pump stations will be rehabilitated in Georgetown by contractor S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Constructing Services. The project was managed by Ramchand Jailal of GWI’s Capital Investment and Planning Department (CIPD).

“GWI has made great strides to provide better sanitation services for residents of the city,” stated GWI’s Chief Executive, Yuri Chandisingh. “It was just a few months ago that we commissioned the state-of-the-art sewerage station at Tucville. These facilities will aid in decreasing the amount of overflows in the city – which will be of tremendous benefit to our customers. However, without their partnership, these new pump stations will not yield the benefits which we anticipate.” The CE joined the Minister in pleading with residents of Charlestown and other beneficiaries of the Project to end the abuse. The remaining pump stations are scheduled for completion later this year.

The ceremony culminated with the unveiling of a plaque by Minster Ali, assisted by a student of St. Mary’s Secondary School.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Georgetown, who gave brief remarks, said that he is satisfied with the work of GWI and pleaded with citizens not to abuse the system and to desist from dumping stuff into manholes.

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