THE Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) has presented prizes to the three winners of the recently concluded Essay Competition held in observance of International World Water Day at its head office at Vlissengen Road and Church Street, Georgetown.

The winners are Joyann Cruickshank, whose placement has secured her the primary prize of $100,000; Anjalie Maraj, whose second placement secured her $50,000; and Jessica Narine, the third place winner who was presented with $25,000.

The essay competition was for children between the ages of 9 and 11, and the essays were in observance of International World Water Day 2016, being celebrated around the world on March 22 under the theme ‘Water and Jobs’.

The children were asked to describe actions they and their families could take to save water at home, work and school, given the current prolonged dry season.

The length of the essay had to be no less than 150 words and no more than 300 words, with a flair of creativity and a bit of descriptive writing.

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Dawn Hastings, who delivered the feature address at the prize giving ceremony, told the gathering that, in Guyana, we can easily conclude that all jobs in all sectors depend on an adequate and safe supply of water, not only on the coastland, but in all regions of Guyana, be it in the agricultural sector, the developmental sector, tourism, health, mining or transportation (riverine transportation).

In fact, the current El Niño situation in Guyana exacerbates the intricate relationship between water and jobs.

“You may be aware that Region 9 has a striving agricultural sector that is suffering because of the current water scarcity,” the minister reminded.