Residents of the Deep South Rupununi now have water security for the first time as a result of positive action by the APNU+AFC administration.
Eight wells have been drilled, commissioned and handed over to communities in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region, and, as a result, no longer will residents have to suffer during annual droughts in the area.

The wells, which were handed over to community representatives last Wednesday are located in the communities of Aishalton, producing 5,000 litres per hour; Chukrikednau, producing 6,000 litres; Karaudarnau, producing 4,500 litres; Achiwuib, producing 6,000 litres; Awarawaunau, producing 4,000 litres; Marunranau, producing 6,000 litres; Shea, producing 4,000 litres; and Baisahidrum, producing 6,000 litres per hour. The wells have been drilled to various depths to optimise water flow rates.

As a consequence of government’s commitment to providing a good life to all Guyanese, residents of the area need no longer worry about water availability, as the wells will provide steady, reliable supplies of water throughout the year.

Last month, this column had reported the details of the initiative. In December 2017, President David Granger and other officials, travelled to Brazil to concretise bilateral cooperation agreements between our neighbouring countries. One of those agreements was the “Technologies to Reduce the Effects of the Drought in Region Nine of Guyana.” The agreement facilitated technical cooperation and collaboration to permit the construction of wells in the Rupununi.

Additionally, it allowed the transfer of technical knowledge, administrative capacity, and other information from Brazilian experts to Guyanese. That important aspect of the arrangements would allow Guyanese to maintain the wells, and even build additional wells in the future.

At the time that government announced the collaborative undertaking with Brazil, The Toshao of Aishalton Village, Michael Thomas said that residents in the areas slated to benefit have welcomed the initiative, even as he noted that it will bring significant relief. The Toshao said too, “I would like to thank the Government for the initiative placed in our region and our sub-district and in our villages. We are glad for the 8 wells that will be drilled in our villages. We are going to benefit tremendously and the residents are already excited to have access to water.

We have been suffering for a very long time in the Rupununi where we have to divert creeks in the dry season but after a time, that runs out of water too, so this initiative is going to benefit us.”

Guyana’s Ambassador to Brazil George Talbot had told the media that the Brazilian authorities were in the process of preparing the framework under which Brazil would build the wells. Alluding to capacity-building, the Ambassador had said, “The element of capacity training is very important on this project which makes more than just a single intervention of drilling and leaving and building of capacity so that in the future Guyanese will be able to perform the works.”

It was projected, at that time that the project of eight wells would be completed in four months. However, obviously, the project, which commenced drilling on October 1, has been finished before the projected completion-date; a commendable achievement.
At the handing-over ceremony on Wednesday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said that while the project faced challenges, it was successfully completed on time because of inter-agency cooperation. He iterated that this project is a concrete example of government’s commitment to providing all citizens with a good life regardless of where they live.

Among many officials present at the ceremony was Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge. The minister emphasised the importance of cooperation between Guyana and other countries. He pointed out that this achievement is a direct result of the good relations, cooperation, and collaboration between Guyana and neighbouring Brazil. He noted too, that the project comes at a time when Guyana and Brazil are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations.

While the people of the Rupununi celebrate, all Guyanese should recognise the efforts and evident results of such efforts by the administration. Including the conception, initiation, and completion of projects that will benefit citizens. Not to mention successful foreign policy, which have, and will continue to produce cooperative undertakings to the advantage of our country.