300 Paramakatoi residents to benefit from 2 new water wells

Over the next few weeks, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) will be working to improve access to potable water for residents of Paramakatoi, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry Susan Rodrigues updated residents on the plans for their community, during a meeting in the village on Monday.
She noted that the administration remains committed to ensuring that development reaches every community.

Speaking of improving access to potable water in hinterland communities, Minister Rodrigues noted that the aim is to bridge the gap that exists between the hinterland and coast. She further stated that the goal is to ensure that there is 100 per cent water coverage in hinterland communities by 2025. To this end, the Government continues to invest heavily in the water sector.
Meanwhile, under the 2023 work programme, Paramakatoi is expected to benefit from the drilling of two potable water wells and construction of well discharge to interconnect to the existing distribution network, in order to provide adequate potable water to the residents.
Currently, the community, which is home to some 300 persons, is supplied with water from a spring. However, water is distributed on a sectional delivery basis, due to limited production of the spring.
Also, the residents took the opportunity to raise several issues affecting them during the meeting, as they seek Government’s intervention.
As part of the Government’s strategy to improve water access across the country, 7000 households received first-time access to potable water in 2022. This was made possible with the commissioning of a number of wells across the country, including a number of wells on the coast to increase access to potable water.
Of these, a $141 million well was commissioned at Lusignan, one at Providence to the tune of $130 million, one at Wakenaam at a cost of $50 million, and another at New Chesney, Berbice.
Residents of the hinterland also received first-time access with the commissioning of 20 water treatment systems at Aranaputa, Rupertee, Wowetta, Rupununi, Jawalla, Shulinab and Annai among others.
Further, 30 additional wells will be constructed across the hinterland in 2023, to remove the gaps that exist in accessing water. Some 13 new water treatment plants will be constructed throughout this year, to the tune of some $32 billion.
Two plants at Maria’s Delight and Onderneeming are expected to provide 100 per cent water coverage for the Essequibo Coast. New plants in Leguan in Region Two, Parika; Parfaite Harmonie and Wales in Region Three; Caledonia to Timehri, Cummings Lodge, Bachelor’s Adventure and Hope in Region Four; Bath in Region Five; and Adventure, and Tain to Number 50 Village in Region Six will help to improve water access in other areas of the country.