Bartica community informed of GWI improvement projects
GUYANA Water Incorporated (GWI) took its countrywide customer service programme ‘Camp Resolution’ to Bartica, in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) on Tuesday, in its continuing effort to improve its services and image.

Consumers in Bartica being attended to by GWI staffers.

The undertaking entails visits by GWI teams to several locations and the Bartica exercise was carried out simultaneously, at W. K. Shopping (Tarzie Mall) on First Avenue, Two Miles Primary School and the entrance to Cool Breeze Bar.

Meeting the public were GWI Chef Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Yuri Chandisingh; Divisional Manager, Mr. Cheatram Lall and other senior officials in mobile offices, offering customers all the services they expect from the utility, including leak reports, bill queries and payments.

Speaking to the media, Chandisingh said Camp Resolution is an initiative by the Ministry of Housing and Water being executed by GWI.

He observed that, at Bartica, like everywhere else, major challenges still remain to ensure that leaks are repaired promptly.

“This is something that we have been talking about wherever we go and we are encouraging our customers to telephone our Call Centre number, 227-8701,” Chandisingh said.

He said those who make a report will get a reference number that will be a receipt to prove that a complaint has been filed.

Chandisingh hoped some customers would tender advice and make suggestions for solving some of the problems experienced in water supply in the area.

Noting that housing developments are taking place in sections of Four Miles and other neighbouring areas, he said the pipe networks are being installed by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) of the Ministry of Housing and Water.

Once those projects are completed, GWI will accept the systems put in place and deliver the service, Chandisingh asured.

Conservation
He said, though, that the focus continues to be on water conservation and he admonished users not to waste water and report leaks promptly, so that the level of service can continue to be improved.

Chandisingh said, for next year, GWI plans a number of investments in capital projects but acknowledged that losses continue to plague the utility throughout the system.

“In order to cut back on those losses, we need capital interventions,” he explained, while disclosing that $16M will be spent in Bartica for upgrades and metering.

Chandisingh said service upgrade is essentially to be done on each customer’s line and meters, will reduce leaks considerably.

“Contrary to what many persons believe, metering is not intended to cause them to pay more but merely to encourage conservation,” he maintained.

Chandisingh said, once users conserve, more water will be available to everyone else.

He also announced that the CH&PA will invest about $10M for transmission upgrades at Four Miles and Five Miles on the outskirts of Bartica, so they will be better served.

Chandisingh is targeting 100 per cent metering implementation as GWI needs to meter everyone for the impact to be felt.

“It makes little sense putting meters for 10 per cent of the customers while the other 90 per cent will not conserve. It needs to be fair and across the board,” he contended.

About Camp Resolution, he said: “It is a wonderful opportunity to improve our image because water is all about people and not just us at GWI, in the office waiting for the customers to come in. But even more important is for us to get out into the field.”

Lall said it is about making the customers feel happy and satisfied with the service.

He said the entity is trying to solve all customer problems and a lot of work has been done to improve quality delivery.

Upgraded
Lall said, by January/February, the customer service connections will be upgraded, by putting in galvanize pipes and the entire Bartica will be metered.

A customer, Mr. Gopaul Sanassie, of Fourth Avenue who had billing queries, lauded the GWI outreach.

He said he would encourage persons to capitalise on the opportunity to express their concerns and have their problems resolved.

Another customer, Ms. Mary Jones, also of Fourth Avenue, endorsed the sentiment, similarly agreeing that it is a good idea for the entity to extend it’s services directly and interface with customers.

She advocated that it should be a continuous process, with visits every six months, to get an idea of what the people on the ground are facing.

A pensioner, Mrs. Sandrine Lovell, of Seventh Avenue, agreed it is a very good move by GWI to assist customers.

“I am satisfied with the response,” she said.

Lovell had a bill mistake corrected and no longer has any payment difficulty, she confirmed.