THE Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) yesterday expressed alarm at the increase in incidents of the verbal abuse and threats of violence towards GWI meter readers, disconnection teams and water service inspectors by the water company’s customers.
The GWI said in a release that a GWI customer of D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice is before the court for verbally abusing and issuing threats to a GWI meter reader.

The incident occurred in early July 2015 and involved the GWI meter reader requesting access to the customer’s residence in order to gain an accurate reading from his water meter. The GWI employee was then verbally abused by the customer upon entering his premises, and she was made to endure a barrage of offensive language and threats to her wellbeing.

Upon reporting the incident to the GWI Customer Services Manager responsible for the Fort Wellington Office, the police were contacted and a full report on the incident was provided.

This resulted in the subsequent arrest of the D’Edward Village customer who was charged with indecent conduct and verbal abuse. The incident was brought before the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court this month.

During these proceedings, the accused pleaded not guilty and the matter was sent to the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court where it was scheduled to be heard yesterday. The GWI meter reader involved in the incident was asked to appear and agreed to testify.

The incident forms part of an overarching problem affecting GWI field employees who are experiencing heightened abuse by customers.

Meanwhile, GWI Chief Executive (ag) Nigel Niles has mandated that Customer Service Managers make contact with the Guyana Police Force regarding any incident in which customers threaten bodily harm or engage in excessive verbal abuse of any GWI employee. “The safety of our employees is of utmost importance,” stated the Chief Executive.
“We will not tolerate any threats of violence towards our field operatives or customer service representatives stationed at our offices. The company will seek prosecution of any customer who attempts to verbally abuse or physically attack any GWI employee,” Niles added.

He has advised that customers who are disgruntled must seek assistance through the normal channels provided by the company’s Customer Services Department.

He further advised that customers must be cognisant of the fact that they are legally obligated to allow GWI meter readers to have access to their water service meters as stipulated in the Water and Sewerage Act, 2002. The Chief Executive noted also that it is an offense to obstruct any GWI employee from gaining access to GWI’s apparatus and acts such as this can result in prosecution, the release concluded.