-$107M in contracts signed
Residents of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara and Grove/Diamond, East Bank Demerara will benefit from an increase in water supply as the administration continues to place tremendous focus on improving social services to all Guyanese.

Consultant, CEMCO, Paul Bonar; Chairman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Mon Repos, Richard Bactowar; Manager, Basic Needs Trust Fund, Michael Singh; and Trinidad based Contractor, Phillip Morren, sign contract for the drilling of the Lusignan well.

Two contracts valued $107M were signed by the Basic Needs Trust fund for the drilling and construction of wells at the two communities yesterday and witnessing the signing were Ministers of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali and Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh.

Minister Ali said that the signing of the contracts is a testimony to government’s actions and commitment to improving the living conditions and livelihood of Guyanese.
He said the administration is investing more than $240M to improve water pressure and flow to the residents of the East Coast Demerara area, which includes installing service connections and upgrades.

“By the end of this year, we should be satisfied with the level of flow and pressure that we will be delivering to customers,” he said.

Minister Ali said the project is part of the Guyana Water Incorporated’s capital investment programme to restructure, rehabilitate and realign infrastructure to better serve the people.

He noted that the current Lusignan well will be revamped after the commissioning of the new well.

The construction of the wells at Lusignan and Diamond/Grove will cost approximately $51M and $56M respectively, and will benefit 2000 people from Lusignan, while approximately 8000 will benefit from Grove/Diamond.

From left Chief Planning Officer, Ministry of Finance, Clyde Roopchand; Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali; and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, at the Lusignan Primary School .

The projects will be undertaken by a Trinidadian-based contractor, Water and Oil Wells Services, and will be supervised by consultant firm, CEMCO.

Minister Dr. Ashni Singh noted that the project is of importance and fits into the over-arching objective of the water sector.

“This strategy is reflected in the level of importance and priority that has been attached to the sector since this government has come into office,” Minister Singh said.

The Minister said the budget allocation of $3.8B for the water sector this year will be spent in various ways, focusing on the agenda that comprises extending services to communities that do not have the service and improving the quality of service for those that have.

“This project is to be viewed within the context of this government’s firm commitment to ensure that we bring critical social services to the people of our country. This has manifested itself in the investment of billions of dollars in education and the provision of water and sanitation…it is against this background that this project is being implemented to ensure progressive provision of services and improvement of services to every community in Guyana,” he said.

BNTF Manager, Michael Singh, while giving an overview of the organization, said that the programme is a poverty alleviation one funded by the Caribbean Development Bank, the Canadian International Development Agency, and the Government of Guyana.

He said the organisation has been in existence since February 16, 1993, engaging and providing infrastructure, skills training and reaching out to the poor.

A sixth programme, he said, has been undertaken and this will conclude on June 30, 2010.
The Lusignan borehole was constructed in 1968, while the Grove well was drilled in 1970 and rehabilitated in 2001.

The new wells will have the capacity to cater for 25 percent (Lusignan) and 50 percent (Grove/Diamond) increase in households, and will be drilled to a depth of approximately 210 and 280 meters respectively. The wells are expected to be completed in 67 and 93 days respectively.

Throughout the country, government has invested millions of dollars in the development of the water sector to ensure that more people continue to receive access to potable water supply.

Recently the GWI embarked on the implementation of strategic turn-around plan to improve services to customers.

The plan seeks to improve customer services, metering systems, increase billings and collections, and reduce leakages. It also includes the acquisition of new capital infrastructure such as wells and distribution network, and consolidating capital investments.