Pure water is vital for human existence, but unfortunately in many countries because of the absence or inadequate potable water supply many die on a daily basis while many are infected with water borne diseases because they are forced to use unclean water. This situation is more evident in poorer societies because even though some 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water it costs appreciable sums of money to extract and process it into a state fit for human consumption.

More than 1 billion people are denied the right to clean water and 2.6 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation. These statistics, taken from the ‘Human Development Report 2006’ by the United Nations Development Program, highlight the extent of the global water crisis. It is Mono Pump’s goal to play a part in bringing water to every human being. A huge challenge but one we feel adequately equipped to face.

In developing countries nearly all surface water is contaminated and therefore not ‘safe drinking water’. The most commonly used ‘safe’ water source is from underground boreholes with some form of pump required to remove water from a borehole.

In fact, a United Nations report predicts that access to water may be the single biggest cause of conflict and war in Africa in the next 25 years.

Here too in Guyana we have a lot of problems with potable water supply despite an abundance of fresh water. However, in more recent years there has been a significant improvement in potable water supply through out the country and with the many large scale water projects ongoing there should be further major improvements in the next few years.

We have certainly moved far away from the days when children had to abandon school to cart water for miles to their homes because the entire potable water supply system virtually collapsed with those in government at the time doing absolutely nothing to bring relief to the masses.

While no one can doubt that there are still many irritants in the potable water supply system they must also equally recognise there have also been many significant improvements and efforts are ongoing to bring further improvements.

In this regard, Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali has made a disclosure that certainly brings tremendous optimism for an improved water sector.

According to the minister over the last six months and during the next 12 months, more than $10 billion will be spent in the water sector, more than $13M per capita, which is the total subsidy from the Government of Guyana, aided by funds from the donor community.

“This is the level of investment that we are putting into the system. We are going to develop an entity that is visionary,” Ali said, explaining that it will be built on strong corporate governance, ethical transparency, efficiency and consultation.

He said all of that requires human and financial resources which are critical to drive the process onward.

Ali noted that a young team will be driving the water sector into the future and explained: “What we are trying to do is to create a modern, responsive and proactive organisation, driven by change and embodied in good corporate governance, manifested in high degrees of efficiency, transparency and customer service.”

He said that is the hallmark of what the entity is trying to achieve in the medium term by 2012

This is certainly the road to travel and it is heartening to see that the GWI has committed itself to good corporate governance which is essential for the efficient and effective functioning of any entity.