GWI, GPL take students on Berbice tour

GUYANA Water Inc (GWI) and Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), in observance of World Water Day 2014 Friday, partnered and hosted a tour of Berbice facilities of the two public utilities.It was part of their educational drive when they took 24 students from three different schools to visit the operations of both companies in the ‘Ancient County’.
The children were from Success Elementary and Monar Educational Institute in Georgetown and School of the Nations in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

They first visited GWI’s Water Treatment Plant in New Amsterdam, where they were guided around the sprawling premises by managers.
Mr. Keine Read, Assistant Divisional Operations Manager, gave a step by step overview of the functions of the water treatment plant while, Mr. Jim Ramjug, Divisional Operations Manager, explained their work.
The visitors were also engaged in a questions and answers segment.
At the second location, the GPL Canefield Power Station, East Canje, the visitors were also guided around the various sections, having donned safety helmets.
They were presented tokens in the form of reading materials and work sheets from both companies and treated to lunch and snacks.

STIR AWARENESS
GWI Public Relations Officer, Mr. Timothy Austin said they collaborated with GPL to make the event possible because they want to stir awareness in students. As such, the trip was organised in an effort to educate children about conserving water and energy.
He said the tour would help the children to better understand water management because, at the plant, they spend $6M per month on production and distribution in Berbice, in which, one of three such water treatment plants serve that county.
On behalf of GPL, Public Relations Officer Shevion Sears-Murray highlighted the need for all to conserve electricity and emphasised the importance of the proper methods of energy conservation.
She said although, it was the first such collaborative undertaking by the utility companies, they will continue such educational programmes for school children, in which more tours and workshops will be organised.
Several of the students said they were pleased to be a part of the outing as they learned a lot and will use the knowledge gained for the conservation of water and electricity in their homes and schools.