GUYANA Water Incorporated (GWI) wishes to correct statements published in the Guyana Chronicle, Sunday March 8 2015, in the article titled ‘90-Year-Old woman appeals for help from somebody – anybody!’.The article indicated that the elderly GWI customer should be exempted from paying for her water service because of her age. GWI wishes to remind all customers that the Government of Guyana has granted a SUBSIDY for the payment of water service charges for GWI account holders who are old-age pensioners (age 65 and above).

The company wishes to emphasise that the ‘Pensioners’ Subsidy’ is intended for the payment of the pensioner’s water service charges which, for customers outside of Georgetown, is valued at $8976. If the pensioner’s consumption is more than the subsidy which was granted, the difference must be paid by the pensioner.

Following publication of the article, an investigation by GWI’s Customer Services Department revealed that the Pensioners’ Subsidy from the Government of Guyana has been consistently applied to the account of Ms. Jasodia Rajja since 2004. This includes the 2015 allocation. The customer’s consumption in 2015 exceeded that of the allocation and she was required to pay a negligible amount. The customer’s account indicates that she is not the sole occupant of the property. This may have contributed to the consumption exceeding the Pensioners’ Subsidy.

The company wishes to reiterate its commitment to ensuring that all pensioners receive quality customer service.

Customers with questions about the Pensioners’ Subsidy can contact GWI’s Customer Services Call Centre on 227-8701, 227-8703 or 227-8704. A brochure on the Pensioners’ Subsidy can be downloaded from www.gwiguyana.com Customers can also e-mail customercallcentre@gwi.gy or on social media: www.facebook.com/everydropcounts
TIMOTHY AUSTIN
Public Relations Officer – Guyana Water Incorporated