THE Chairman, Mr. Harrinarine Baldeo has acknowledged that there has been some major achievements in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) over the years.
He was speaking at the commissioning of the new $400M water treatment plant at Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice, jointly funded by the Government of Guyana and the World Bank.
Baldeo said it is, indeed, a pleasure to be associated with the happy but simple occasion, from which some 15,000 residents will get their own service connection, enjoy upgraded distribution infrastructure and access to high quality treated water.
He said it is a great achievement for them in Region Five, as the facility will benefit residents between Number Six Village and Shieldstown.
“Things, indeed, have been happening in this region over the years,” Baldeo said, reminding the gathering of the major achievements.
He disclosed that, recently, a new nursery school, built by the Government of Guyana, through Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), was opened at Bath and, very shortly, another primary school will be commissioned at De Hoop and, currently, a home for the homeless is being constructed at Onverwagt, all on West Coast Berbice.
“Besides that, recently, we commissioned the drying floor in the region and, shortly, we will be commissioning another one,” Baldeo reported.
He said the commissioning of the water factory is a special day for the region after the construction took about 18 months.
“To talk about water in this country, sometimes, you cannot forget what happened in the past and West Berbice was one of the areas in this country that was so much affected by water,” Baldeo recalled.
“Residents, including the old folks, the young folks, women and children have had difficult times in the past to get water. But through the Government of Guyana, we have seen great improvement in this service here, in the delivery of the water to the residents of Region Five,” he observed.
Baldeo said, additionally, in the course of time, a few water wells have been sunk in the region and there has been great improvement in this regard.
Repeating that it is a great achievement, he said, after the plant is officially commissioned, from Number Seven, going on to Bath, Hopetown, Bush Lot, pumps will be connected.
“This is a very critical area for us and I want to urge the beneficiaries of this project not to abuse the system. Do not waste water as is rightly said it is life,” Baldeo urged.
He pointed out that in the difficult times of El Nino, the region and Guyana, at large, faced great problems with potable water.
“Those were very difficult times for us and the Regional Administration of Region Five has been working very closely with Guyana Water Inc to ensure residents, particularly, in the riverain areas of Abary, Mahaicony and Mahaica, get potable water.
“I want to, on behalf of the Regional Democratic Council, to welcome this project in Region Five and say we are very thankful to the Government of Guyana and the World Bank, for choosing this area to have such an entity,” Baldeo said.