GUYANA Water Inc. (GWI) is adapting a particular strategy in the hinterland, where very remote and isolated places have widely scattered, semi-nucleated settlements and, to get to some, air transport is the only effective means of rapid accessibility.

GWI PRO Rawle Aaron.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) Rawle Aaron said it will be shared with the major communities in the thrust to fully consolidate and get all key stakeholders involved.

He assured that GWI will be sinking more wells in those areas as they have embarked on a massive campaign to provide potable water in hinterland areas since every effort is being made to foster development in those outlying places.

Mr. Aaron made the announcement after a team from GWI, Ministry of Health and Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) officials visited St. Cuthbert’s Mission last weekend.

He said Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali and GWI Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Yuri Chandisingh were in the visiting party to Amerindian communities, to ensure they are receiving adequate flow.

They also went to Lethem and Tiger Pond, both in Rupununi, where they interacted with residents.

Aaron said the hinterland has above 80 per cent coverage and approximately 11.8 per cent of the Guyana population, the majority being of Amerindian ethnicity.

Speaking to the media yesterday, Aaron said the utility is, indeed, executing the mandate, in its mission statement, to deliver adequate and affordable water and ensure safe sewerage systems for improved public health and sustainable economic development and repair wells.

He said, after a meeting and an inspection of the existing well at St. Cuthbert’s, they discovered that the dry weather spell is more pronounced in that area, so specially designed ceramic bio-sand filters were given to residents.

Aaron explained that the filters are an innovation on the traditional slow and water ones, specifically made for intermittent or household use but can be produced locally because they are made of materials that are readily available.

According to him, the filter is simply a concrete container, enclosing layers of sand and gravel, which trap and eliminate sediments, pathogens and other impurities from the water.

He said the Ministry of Health functionaries also distributed bleach to villagers for them to purify their stored water.