HOUSING and Water Minister, Collin Croal, assured residents of Newtown, Kitty, that the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) was doing all it could to fast track works and relieve them of the inconvenience they had been experiencing, caused by pipe laying works.

The minister, along with GWI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shaik Baksh and Director of Projects, Aubrey Roberts, visited the site at Republic, DaSilva and Lamaha Streets on Sunday to inspect the status of works carried out.

Minister Croal noted that residents had expressed the discomfort they had been experiencing due to the length of time the project was taking to be completed. He emphasized, however, that the history and initiation of the project were important, since such led to the prolonged delay and inconvenience meted out to residents in the project area.

The Housing and Water Minister recalled that the contract for the Vlissengen Road pipe laying project was signed on November 30, 2017 with eight requests for payment by the previous contractor – Mr. Barnes, totalling $114M.

However, only 11 per cent of works were completed, equivalent to some $39M. As such, the administration inherited the below-par work and the challenges surrounding it, and the matter was before the court.

The minister apologised for the inconvenience caused and thanked residents for their patience to date, adding that, upon completion, they will benefit from improved quality of water and level of service, as well as better roads.

Baksh stated that GWI has stood the expense outside of the contract sum to replace culverts in the area and the utility will be writing to the Town Clerk of City Council to desilt the drains.

Meanwhile, Projects Director Roberts now anticipates another four to six weeks for the completion of works. The remainder of works includes the installation of four-inch lines along Vlissengen Road, between Garnette and Duncan streets, pressure testing of the pipes, reinstating the roads and the interconnection of lines.

Residents who met with the team during the visit expressed gratitude for the interest shown in seeing the works to completion and welcomed the improved service and roads expected at the end of the project.