-with Japanese donation of 35 solar powered water pumping systems
WATER supply in hinterland communities will soon receive a significant boost with the donation of 35 solar powered water pumping system which were handed over yesterday by the Japanese Ambassador Mr. Tatsuaki Iwata at the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Corporate Complex at Church and Vlissengen Roads, Georgetown.
Minister Ali in his address said, “It is with great privilege and pleasure that we in the water sector accept this morning the further enhancement of the relationship between the Government of Japan and the Government of Guyana (GOG)”.
“We are very delighted that the water sector is playing such a key role in cementing the very strong relationship that these countries share,” he told the gathering.
“We are very delighted that the water sector is playing such a key role in cementing the very strong relationship that these countries share,” he told the gathering.
Ali said Guyana views the government and people of Japan as very close friends, and international partners who have contributed tremendously to the advancement and development of Guyana’s cause internationally, moreso, the support Japan has lent on the issue of climate change and the environment.
“I wish to register our gratitude for the Government of Japan support in our fight to change the attitude of our people globally in the use and care of the environment, and more importantly, mitigating future challenges as a result of climate change,” he expressed.
Alluding to the transfer of technology, he said this is a very important issue for small developing countries like Guyana where the advancement of technology and modernisation are critical components for development.
“But we can have all the equipment and machinery to take us there, but if we don’t have the most important human technical skills to advance the process then, of course, all of this can be of no use,” he pointed out.
To this end, he expressed thanks for the technical cooperation with human resource noting the water sector is also benefitting from this.
“We are most grateful, and that asset has definitely worked towards improvement of the sector,” he stressed.
He said the relationship that Guyana shares with Japan extends beyond the water sector, alluding to evidence that would have transformed not only the infrastructural landscape of the country but assisted tremendously in the improvement of services and betterment of living conditions.
“These are all evidence of the great and elaborate partnership between the GOG and the Government of Japan,” he exhorted.
He added: “I wish to assure you that the GOG cherishes this relationship, and we will work aggressively to ensure that our relationship is further cemented and safeguarded in the interest of the development of our people.”
Ali said the current El Nino situation is a real issue not only for Guyana but for the wider Caribbean, observing that Guyana is facing, perhaps, one of the most challenging periods in the water sector.
“It is a time when we are investing heavily in the capital improvement of the sector simultaneously trying to improve our human resource efficiency and  capabilities to manage that capital investment, and then we are faced with the natural effect of nature in El Nino conditions,” he explained.
He said presently many communities in the hinterland are at a point where they require critical support, with a number of the shallow wells dried up as well as fresh water source.
“Historically, these communities in the hinterland would have been satisfied with a basic shallow well. Time has change today, we now have to provide a service in these communities that goes beyond a shallow well, a service that improves our capacity and capability to deliver a more efficient and reliable service to our people in the hinterland,” he stated.
Also critical, he said is the issues of improving quality and sanitation especially in hinterland communities hence the project is very critical.
He said other challenges in those communities include high fuel prices, operational cost, and not having the supporting population – which makes it necessary to “implement a cost-effective relevant technology to that area”.
“…and here is where the solar system is critical in the development path of the water sector in hinterland communities,” Minister Ali emphasised.
He said that not only would this facility provide the service of water, it would ensure that there is a sustainable service, dealing with the issue of quality and contamination, operating cost and efficiency.
Ali also noted that when the systems are installed, in house training will be done with members of the communities building capacity in terms of maintenance and operation.
He said the hinterland strategy would require at least 167 solar systems to transform the water resource landscape in hinterland communities, with a total investment of more than $849M required.
He said the cost of installation of the set of solar systems received will require an implementation cost which would be stand by the Government and GWI.
These systems, the minister explained would allow GWI to develop new water sources, boreholes, hand dug wells and gravity feed systems, and part of its intervention is to allow for gravity feed and extend the network with some stand pipes.
“The solar systems would give us the capacity to deliver the service in a much more efficient manner to the people so it would reduce tremendously the burden that is placed on our people in the hinterland community,” he posited.
Also, he said that issues of renewable energy, pressurized water, high volume discharge, and water quality would be addressed with this intervention.
“This gesture and partnership here this morning is very significant not only in terms of the present El Nino condition that we are experiencing but also for the sustainable extraction and delivery of water in our hinterland communities,” he stressed.
Expressing sincere gratitude to the Japanese Government, he stated, “We hope that we will continue to collaborate and work together for a better and improved conditions and living standards for our people.”
Japan Ambassador, Mr. Iwata in brief remarks said, it is an indeed an honour to formally hand over the solar-powered water pumps.
He recalled that in March 2008, the Government of Japan extended grant aid to the GOG to the sum of about US$5M for the purpose in the areas of climate change and the environment, and a portion of these funds was used to acquire solar powered generation units.
“It is my understanding that these pumps will be installed in the hinterland region, where the population of this area, mostly comprising of Amerindian communities, can see a vast improvement in the quality of their lives, as they will now have access to a potable and regular supply of water,” he stated.
The Ambassador applauded the government for its decision to employ this particular type of water-pumps as these communities do not have a supply of electricity.
“The use of solar panel has an additional benefit of being regarded as an environmentally-friendly source of power,” he added.
In this regard, he reco
gnised that Guyana is fast becoming a beacon for developing and developed countries worldwide due to the tireless effort of President Bharrat Jagdeo in the area of climate change and the development of a Low Carbon Development model.
“This is an area in which my Government has also been working tirelessly, not only in terms of cooperation to countries that would require our expertise and technology, but also at the level of domestic commitments in areas such as emissions reductions, and the increased usage of and research into cleaner technology and energy,” he stated.
He said the friendship and cooperation that the two countries have long shared, can be further developed through their common goals particularly in the area of climate change and the environment.
“I certainly look forward to exploring this, and other areas for future cooperation with the Government of Japan,” he anticipated.
Also, he noted that there are several Japanese nationals working in Guyana to transfer technology in various field such as health, agriculture, and the water sector as well.
He acknowledged that transfer of technology and expertise is core for development of any economy and society.
“I hope our experts from Japan will make as much contribution to the development of this country, and I should like to support the activities in this country, and ask you to support these people,” he expressed.
GWI Hinterland Manager, Mr. Akram Hussain, in giving an illustration of how the photovoltaic system works, said the system basically captures the sun’s energy and then converts that into electrical energy, which is then used to power a pumping unit taking water up to a elevated storage.
He said the water is stored for period of time, and then distributed through a distribution network at different distribution points so that residents could draw the water.
Also present were GWI Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Yuri Chandisingh; Ministry of Housing and Water Permanent Secretary, Mr. Emile McGarrell; and the Japanese nationals currently in Guyana to lend technical support, among other officials.