A Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) customer had been ordered by the utility company to pay a $25,000 fine for water wastage, however, the company did not give the customer a hearing.
As a result, the Public Utility Commission (PUC) says there is no provision in the law for the company to institute a fine for water wastage.
Badewattis Sookdeo, one of the redundant workers of the former Rose Hall Sugar Estate, says she has no idea why her water was disconnected. According to Sookdeo, last Wednesday morning, a representative from GWI came to her lot 1197 Welfare Street, New Area, Canefield, Canje home and disconnected her
Badewattis Sookdeo with her uncle and father
water without any explanation.
“She just call at the gate and when I come out. She told me that she is from Guywah [GWI] and she come to disconnect my water, so I ask her why and she say if I want to know anything more let me go to the office and she told the guys who were with her to cut it off,” Sookdeo who worked 28 years with the sugar company before being displaced on December 29, 2017, when the company was shut down by Government said.
The woman went on to explain that further inquiries suggest that the company is accusing her of wasting water; an offence for which she was fined.
According to Sookdeo, when she visited the GWI office in New Amsterdam she was informed that she was being fined $25,000 for wasting water and will be
The hole left by GWI after they disconnected Sookdeo’s water supply
required to pay a further $6000 to reconnect the water supply after the fine is paid.
“I don’t think this is fair, if they say I was wasting water I think that someone should come and investigate the matter before this happen,” Sookdeo noted.
Meanwhile, the PUC says there are only provisions for GWI to institute fines for tampering and since a fine is being asked for alleged water wastage, the customer’s rights have been violated. Further, the PUC argues that before any fine can be instituted, the alleged defaulter must be given a hearing. This, the PUC says, is a second violation.
Sookdeo who lives with her 78-year-old father and 79-year-old uncle provided
No running water
proof that all of her water consumption bills are up to date.
She also said that her home is equipped with three water tanks and already she has been forced to purchase drinking water and if rain does not fall shortly she may be forced to purchase larger quantities of water.
According to her 78-year-old father, Peter Sookdeo, he is ill and uses pampers; so too does his elder brother. Their conditions, he added, have created a desperate need for water.
The PUC has promised to investigate the issue with the aim of protecting the customer from the company.
