– Dr. Luncheon
MAHDIA, in Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni), is gaining highly focused interventions by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic with regards to its potable water woes, Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon assured on Wednesday. He said the manner in which the situation is being dealt with is prioritised.
Speaking at his post Cabinet Media briefing in Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown, he said government has recognised the vulnerability of the distribution system as it wends its way from the reservoir, miles outside the township through mining areas before it enters the township where water is supplied free of charge to the residents.
He added that the most recent interruption lasted a couple of weeks before the Hinterland Unit of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) went in and comprehensively addressed the basis or causes of the disruption.
The same causes, such as broken, leaking and clogged mains and the same perpetrators, the miners, were found to be responsible as in previous instances.
“That vulnerability is unavoidable but can be mitigated; the Regional Administration has been called upon to pay much greater attention in safeguarding the integrity of the system,” he said.
The HPS also alluded to the considerable cost of the restoration to GWI, as a large sum of money is being spent to fix the problem.
“That expansion and restoration occurring at the same time that Mahdia is experiencing highly focused intervention by the PPP/C Administration,” Luncheon added.

SPECIFIC REFERENCE
He made specific reference to the expansion of the electricity grid in the region, the rebuilding of the burnt out Arcade, the upgrade of the airstrip, the provision of housing there, and the progressive development of municipal services in the Mahdia township.
Luncheon said the Regional Administration would be called upon to make greater contribution in safeguarding the integrity of the water distribution system in Mahdia.
On Monday, March 26, Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali and a team from his ministry visited the area where miners continue to destroy the pipelines along the road to the Salbora Creek in Mahdia, Potaro.
The damages resulted in unwanted materials entering the distribution system, thus putting the health of the residents of the community at risk.
During an inspection of the lines along the Salbora Road, several sections along the way leading to the reservoir, which is the primary water source for the community, were discovered vandalized.
He said the tremendous loss by the utility was pointed out as one of the main effects of the wanton destruction of the infrastructure.
Luncheon pointed out that Government is investing millions of dollars in upgrading the Mahdia water system, which amounted to in excess of $460M, for tapping the source and developing the network and providing water to the community.
Additionally, more than $6M has been invested, over the last two years, in the rehabilitation of the line which is being destroyed by miners in the area.
The Housing and Water Minister promised to work closely with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment in addressing the issue of irresponsible conduct of miners.
To remedy the continuous problem, the Regional Administration will be employing four linesmen to monitor the infrastructure along the Salbora Road and will be permanently based at the site to maintain the Reservoir.
GWI has also expressed concerns regarding the problems, given the frequency of the occurrences, he added.