MINISTER of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan yesterday met with the Senior Management of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), the nation’s supplier of Water and Sanitation Services, at the company’s Corporate Complex on Vlissengen Road, Bel-Air Park.According to a statement from GWI, the minister interacted with the Corporate Management Team, Customer Services and Divisional Operations Managers. He was accompanied by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities, Emil McGarrell and Technical Advisor to the Minister on Projects, Charles Ceres.

Minister Bulkan commented on the structure of the Ministry of Communities and explained that GWI is now within the purview of the new Ministry as a vital arm for the delivery of safe water service country-wide.

He emphasised that while the structure of the Ministry may be new to GWI employees, it is essentially a continuation of the existing policies that govern the efficient delivery of services to the nation.

Mr. Bulkan explained that the Ministry of Communities was created with the belief that more empowerment is needed among the local democratic bodies, communities and agencies providing essential services to residents.

He explained that the Ministry’s thrust would be to provide essential support for local government bodies in an effort to encourage more decision making and execution of community development initiatives at this level.

Commenting directly on issues related to Guyana’s Water Sector, the Minister of Communities also stated that there is an urgent need for the re-establishment of the National Water Council to effectively make decisions on issues related to the long-term management of local water resources. He also advocated for the creation of a National Strategy on Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and deemed it essential to the overall strategy of sustainable administration of Guyana’s water resources.

Focusing on matters which directly affect the management of GWI, Minister Bulkan emphasised the need for a strategy to deal with Non-Revenue Water. He explained that there is an urgent need for the utility to reduce the amount of water that is unaccounted for within the system and the subsequent loss of revenue.
Minister Bulkan also underlined the importance of the utility becoming financially viable and urged GWI Management to continue with the aggressive campaign for revenue from water service charges. He also highlighted the need for customers to be educated about the importance of paying for the services provided by GWI as well as the critical need for education on the wastage of water.

The Honorable Minister completed his interaction with the GWI Team by emphasising that there would be no reinvention of operating standards but instead a focus on areas for improvement. Minister Bulkan charged GWI’s Management Team with ensuring that all services provided to customers are of the highest quality and that all GWI employees perform their duties with the utmost integrity.

Interaction and the sharing of ideas between Guyana Water Inc; and its umbrella body, the Ministry of Communities will continue today with a visit by Minister within the Ministry, Mr. Keith Scott, to GWI Customer Services Offices, treatment facilities and communities in East Berbice.