By Michel Outridge

THE COUNTRY’S water utility, GWI, did solicit donations from contractors and others to drill additional wells in the Rupununi, but no one was forced, threatened or coerced into making donations, GWI Chief Executive Officer Dr. Richard Van West-Charles said on Monday.Because of the dry weather, Dr Van West-Charles said, more wells were needed in Region Nine; and so to raise funds he appealed to contractors attached to Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and other businesses, as well as citizens, to make donations to the project – if they were in a position to do so.

“We have to drill about 50 wells across that region to respond to the needs of residents, and I indicated at that time that donations should be voluntary; and at no time was there anyone being blacklisted (for not donating),” Dr Van West-Charles told reporters at his GWI’s Shelter Belt, Georgetown head office.

He explained that, at one meeting, he made it clear that if any of the contractors were unable to make a donation, then that would not be a problem. He said that, of the more than 140 contractors, just about 12 were present, and they made voluntary donations.

Dr. Van West-Charles told the press conference that on April 15, 2016 there was a claim by the opposition PPP that there were reports that head of agencies were involved in extortion. He denied those reports. At the press conference, he invited some of the contractors, who had their say in the matter.

At the same time, the Financial Director was asked to prepare cheques of the donations received to be made available.

He said a report in the Guyana Times which suggests that the contractors were threatened into making donations was “reckless and untruthful because it smears GWI.”

Contractor Macsood Ahmad of Ahmad Contracting Company, based at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, told the press conference that during the coast-wide flood of 2005, donations were sought and obtained from him, and no fuss was made then.

And so he questioned why his donation to GWI now was a source of controversy. He said he made the donation out of concern for the residents of Region Nine.

Ahmad was surprised that the majority of contractors were not present for the press briefing.

He said he worked for GWI for 17 years, and under the previous administration it was officials of the company who demanded money from him before he could receive contracts.

“I had to pass money before I get work; I have the letters at home to show who I gave money to after demands were made (of) me then.”