The Ministry of Housing and Water is on the move to ensure that new housing schemes are developed with the basic amenities such as water, before allocations are made.
This was the sentiment expressed by Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues who visited Prospect Housing Development, East Bank Demerara today, upon the request of residents.
The population there currently depends on the rain as their main source of water supply or alternatively, fetch water from a standpipe some distance away in the community.
During her meeting with the residents, Minister Rodrigues explained that the Ministry had fallen short on developing new housing areas with access to potable water prior to home owners taking up occupancy.
As part of plans to provide immediate relief to the community, Minister Rodrigues informed residents that the Guyana Water Incorporated is working to provide water to each household within two weeks. The realization of this project would entail connecting pipelines to the Covent Garden water supply system to serve Prospect Housing Development.
This would see persons receiving water at a minimum standpipe level as a temporary fix and negate the need for rain water harvesting and the fetching of water.
The Housing and Water Minister explained that she visited the community in August when she had taken up office to assess the situation, with the aim of catering for works in the Ministry’s budget.
As a result, funds to the tune of GYD$80 Million have already been transferred to GWI for a long term solution to the community’s water woes. These funds will go towards the drilling of two new wells – one in Farm and another in Providence, which would allow residents a significant improvement in the level of service in each household. The Minister posited that drilling is expected to start before the end of 2020. The residents thanked the Minister.
