THE Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) “Free Pass” campaign will end on Saturday, as such, the water company has strengthened its enforcement team with more than 25 field employees doing checks in all divisions as they step up their disconnection campaign.

Collections Manager, Roylene Fernandes told the media yesterday morning during an interview at GWI head office at the Shelterbelt located at Church Street and Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, that there are two contracted staffers supported by 25 employees within the divisions as Water Service Inspectors.

She noted that they will be doing door-to- door visits to all customers whose service was disconnected but who did not utilise the “Free Pass” to have their service regularised.

Fernandes pointed out that the GWI “Free Pass” campaign will come to an end on Saturday and that is when their enforcement teams will intensify their campaign on December 1, 2014.

She explained that disconnected customers who did not utilise the “Free Pass” campaign will have to pay $25,000 tampering fees plus penalties, that is, re-connection fees of $6,000 for domestic customers and $13,000 for commercial customers.

Fernandes added that disconnected customers in addition, will also have to pay their outstanding arrears and urged them to visit any GWI office in their areas and enter the Wallet Friendly Payment Plan.

She noted that once a customer is disconnected and did not pay, their service will be entirely removed and they will also have to pay a re-application fee of $16,000 to have their GWI water service restored.

The GWI official said if one is in arrears, at least pay something on the account so that the service will not be disconnected; and once one enters the Water Friendly Payment Plan, ensure payment is made on the contract due date to avoid disconnection.

The GWI “Free Pass” campaign was active for six weeks since it was launched on October 15, 2014 and about 2,000 customers have since made use of the opportunity.

Fernandes said they recently started their re-checking activity, in which all disconnected customers will be visited to see if they are tampering with the service.

She however urged all disconnected customers to visit any GWI office to have their service regularised and make payments on their accounts.

(By Michel Outridge)