In an effort to collect $6B in arrears…
Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) yesterday announced that customers are in arrears of $6B and it will embark on a stringent disconnection campaign on March 3 to collect all outstanding money. GWI customers with arrears for water service charges will be disconnected if they do not acknowledge their bills and pay up.
This disclosure was made at a press conference yesterday at GWI headquarters at Church and Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.
Chief Executive, Mr. Yuri Chandisingh, stated that this action is a last resort since many customers have not responded to other initiatives.
He said, “In 2009, GWI launched several initiatives not only to encourage customers to make payments, but to facilitate better access to payment locations”.
Mr. Chandisingh added that in 2009, GWI invested large sums in Camp Resolution, and while the response was satisfactory, they still have customers with large debts on their database.
He stated that they also launched a payment reminder campaign during the holidays that continued into February 2010; however the response has been negligible.
He pointed out that some customers simply refuse to pay for their water service arrears – these persons are candidates for disconnection from March 2.
Mr. Chandisingh urged customers to call or visit GWI locations in order to avoid the impending disconnections.
“I am appealing to all customers with arrears to visit the nearest GWI location and avoid having their water service disconnected. Those who cannot afford to pay the full debt can enter into a payment plan. These persons will not be disconnected once they have agreed to a payment contract.”
He advised that customers who are not in receipt of a bill will not be exempted from disconnection.
Mr. Chandisingh said, “These customers are aware that they have legitimately utilised our service and it is their obligation to enquire about their service charges.”
Meanwhile, National Revenue Manager Mr. Earle Aaron told the press conference that 123,000 customers owe money.
He stated that 60,000 customers have outstanding balances that go back prior to their last bill in August 2009, and this means they have since ignored two bills since.
Mr. Aaron disclosed that customers countrywide owe the water utility $6B in all and GWI cannot sustain itself with that magnitude of debt. So disconnections are a must.
Mr. Aaron stated that once disconnected, one will have to pay a re-connection fee of $13,000.
He disclosed that they will be re-checking disconnected customer to see if they have re-connected their service, and this carries a fine of $25,000 for domestic customers and $50,000 or a prison sentence for business customers.
Speaking about GWI’s financial constraints, Director of Finance, Ravin Paltoo, told the media that the company has invested a lot of money to deliver treated water to customers; and if customers do not pay up, the company will not be able to continue its business.
He added that last year the government paid GWI subsidies on behalf of pensioners.