FOLLOWING the launching of the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) “Free Pass” campaign last month, the water company has reported that the response so far has been good.

GWI had offered free reconnection with no penalties for tampering until November 29 in its ‘Free Pass’ campaign which initially targeted 10,000 domestic customers.

However, GWI Public Relations Officer, Timothy Austin told this publication that by next week they are hoping to surpass the 1,000 mark since persons are seizing the opportunity to have their services re-connected using their “Wallet Friendly” payment plan.

Austin explained that the “Free Pass” campaign has proved to be very useful thus far and they are very pleased with the response and so GWI is urging more customers to come forward and have their services re-connected.

He stated that some defaulters who had their service removed altogether and some who were not paying up are back in the GWI system, and there have been good responses from Georgetown and Berbice customers.
Austin told this publication they will intensify their campaign on the West Coast Demerara, East Coast Demerara, Linden, and in other out-of-town areas.

CAR WASHES, EATING HOUSES

He pointed out that on November 29, 2014 businesses will be disconnected since they were not entitled to the GWI service and some of those defaulters include car washes, eating houses and a few hotels, some of which have illegal connections.

Austin said those businesses in arrears were notified via letters which were dispatched in the first week of this month and if they do not pay up, the names of those businesses will be published as GWI sees fit.

He added that if businesses ignore GWI’s notice to pay up, their service will be entirely removed when the countrywide disconnection campaign starts on December 1 as there is a rigid enforcement team in place.

During a press conference yesterday at GWI headquarters, Vlissengen Road and Church Street, Georgetown, Customer Services Manager, Jeannette Thomas said the water company is offering huge incentives before the massive countrywide disconnection for non-payment begins.

‘GWI FREE PASS’

Thomas announced that starting today, domestic customers who were disconnected can apply at any GWI commercial office for a ‘GWI Free Pass’ which entitles them to a reconnected service without paying the usual $6,000 reconnection fee.

She added that the ‘GWI Free Pass’ is also for domestic customers whose service connections were entirely removed for large debt and customers who would be required to pay $25,000 for reconnecting their service will also receive exemptions under the ‘GWI Free Pass’ programme.

Thomas said that in addition, customers whose entire service was removed for tampering can save $10,000 with the ‘GWI Free Pass’ for the replacement of their water service.
END-OF-YEAR DISCONNECTION
She explained that to benefit from the limited time offer, customers must visit a GWI commercial office and apply since the ‘GWI Free Pass’ promotion ends November 29 and the programme is being launched prior to the company’s annual large scale countrywide disconnection campaign which commences on December 1.

Thomas told the press that the campaign is geared towards providing disconnected customers with the opportunity to pay all outstanding arrears without the burden of reconnection or tampering fees.

Thomas said, “We urge all disconnected customers and those with illegal connections to apply for the ‘GWI Free Pass’ and avoid paying additional money in penalty fees.”

She explained that after November 29 all penalties will be in effect and most disconnected customers will find it difficult to pay all arrears plus penalty fees which can be as high as $25,000.

Thomas said, “We are urging every disconnected customer to apply for a ‘GWI Free pass’ while it is still available.”

The GWI Customer Services Manager said, “It is vital that persons with illegal services apply for the ‘GWI Free Pass’, noting that the enforcement teams will be policing communities from December 1 to remove all illegal services as well as those services which were illegally reconnected. “This is a chance for these customers to regularise their GWI service with zero penalty payments required.”