MINISTER of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali disclosed, last Friday, that Government has invested some $3 billion in the development of the water sector in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) over the last five years.

He was speaking at the turning of the sod for the state-of-the-art $1.6 billion water treatment plant in Queenstown, Corriverton, the second phase of a project to improve water supply in that region.

The ceremony, organised by Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), took place

at the Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre, Number 79, Corriverton, Corentyne, Berbice.

Funded through a Government of Japan grant aid scheme, the plan is designed to improve the quality of service provided to residents between Number 51Village and Moleson Creek and is divided into two phases.

The first phase was the Number 56 Water Treatment Plant, successfully completed in March 2008 at a cost of $1.1 billion and benefitting 23 villages from Number 51 through Number 73. It is part of the Guyana Government’s dedication towards modernising the sector and providing safe potable water.

The Government, in 2004, recognising the need to upgrade the quality of potable water supply, indicated its plans to the Japanese Government and it was decided that two water treatment plants would be between Number 51 and Moleson Creek.

Phase one of the undertaking consisted of the construction of the treatment plant, transmission and conductor mains, procurement of 8,400 water meters and rehabilitation of the Number 57 well.

Similarly, works will be conducted under phase two to complete the erection of the plant at Queenstown and the contract was awarded to Tokura Corporation, a firm duly registered in Japan.

That work is scheduled for completion in August 2010 and includes a treatment plant, elevated storage, rehabilitation of two existing pump stations and installation transmission pipelines.

The plant will utilise the slow sand filtration technology which was successfully introduced in 2008 at Number 56 water treatment plant, making it the second of its kind in this country.

This methodology harnesses the microbial content of the groundwater to achieve iron removal, eliminating the need for electromechanical equipment and reducing the carbon footprint of the plant.

Ali said the ceremony marks the beginning of a process that will impact the lives of at least 18,000 people directly and indirectly thousands of others, through the provision of service at various schools, markets and other public and private facilities.

Benefitted

Acknowledging and thanking the Government and people of Japan for its assistance, he noted that the region has already benefitted significantly from the intervention of the Japanese Government with the modern New Amsterdam Hospital, as well.

“These are all critical investments that will ensure Guyana not only provide an essential service to its people but would ensure we meet the goals and targets set out in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” Ali stated.

“These are critical if we, as a global community, are to accomplish the great task of eradicating poverty, removing hunger and ensuring that all of our people have access to basic and essential services of life, of which water is, perhaps, the most critical,” he offered.

Noting the importance of the proposed facilities, Ali said: “If we allow this investment by the people of Japan, in the improvement of our lives, to suffer the historical fate of a number of our facilities throughout this country, then we will not be doing justice to this investment.”

He encouraged the residents to utilise this quality product in a manner that is responsible.

However, Ali said, while GWI is far from being satisfied with the level of service delivered to its customers, it is a process that requires collaboration and understanding.

“This is just another milestone in the implementation of our turnaround plan for Region Six,” he added.

He revealed that, in 2010, two new boreholes will be sunk in the region and upgrading and extending of its distribution network done to better serve the people.

“So, investment is not limited to this project and our investment is far from meeting its optimal point but we want the customers of Region Six to understand that this is a collaborative effort that requires support and understanding from each other,” Ali reiterated.

He said the project builds on slow sand filtration technology that will help in reducing operational cost and a generator is built into the facility.

Ali said the Government of Japan has supported the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and “we look forward to this continued support even as you, yourself, seek to advance the ‘Cool Earth 50’ Plan.”

“We wish to reiterate our support for the Cool Earth 50 Plan and we wish to seek your continued support in our LDCS, as we move forward to find a holistic solution to the global issue of environment and global warming,” he said.

Ali thanked the Government and people of Japan for the gesture of goodwill which shows the strong relationship shared and the Japanese contribution to the development of Guyana.

Japanese Counsellor, Mr. Kiyoshi Takeuchi agreed that the project marks another milestone and, when it is completed, residents of Corriverton would be able to enjoy an improved supply and quality of water.

“This will, undoubtedly, result in an improvement in the quality of life of the residents of Corriverton, as access to a reliable and potable water supply is a critical element to this type of progress,” he stated.

Commitment

The diplomat commended the Government of Guyana for not only strengthening the relations which it shares with Japan through these types of cooperative efforts but, more importantly, for maintaining its commitment to the development and well-being of its people, by seeking such projects from which they can directly benefit.

“The Government of Japan is, therefore, honoured to have partnered with the Government of Guyana as it seeks to take its country and people forward,” Takeuchi said.

He acknowledged that countries around the world are going through a most difficult time which requires significant effort not only at the national but, collectively, at the international level.

“The cooperative and friendly relations, long shared by Japan and the Republic of Guyana have provided us both with a solid foundation on which we can continue to build on and provide mutual support especially in the context of the current global economic crisis”.

Regional Chairman, Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha said: “I think that our region is moving forward economically and infrastructurally and, today, Region Six is taking up its rightful place in the development of the country.”

He lauded the Ministry of Housing and Water and GWI their pro-activeness and the better services being extended across the region while thanking the Japanese Government for its assistance.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of GWI, Mr. Yuri Chandisingh said the facility will ensure that there is much improved service to the communities and water safety is an integral part of the project.

“This project is a total package,” he told the gathering and underscored the importance of raising awareness and how consumers use the service.

He said it is important that consumers understand the importance and value of water and it is against this backdrop that GWI will soon embark on a youth education programme which will target schools in particular within the project area.