GWI warns of fake disconnection crew

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is advising its customers to be vigilant for persons purporting to be employees of the company’s disconnection crew and demanding payments.
During a press conference on Thursday, Managing Director Dr Richard Van-West Charles noted that these persons do not work for the company.
“We ask you to be aware of people who are moving around in communities attempting to say they are removing your service and asking you pay. They are not acting on behalf of GWI and therefore we want to ask our customers to ask people who are involved in this activity to identify themselves,” he told reporters.
Van-West Charles further advised customers to ensure that persons claiming to be GWI’s employees identify themselves. All GWI workers are furnished with badges which bear their name and photograph.
The Managing Director reiterated that if the crews are not properly equipped with the requisite identification then they should not be allowed onto your premises and the matter should be reported to the company as well as the police.
Reflecting on the importance of water to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Managing Director stated that the utility company will be working with squatters to provide potable water during this critical time.
There have been reports of fake disconnection crews, claiming to be attached to the GWI, floating around for a while. A Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD) man had accused the company’s disconnection crew of extorting him after threatening to disconnect this water supply.
The same crew reportedly did that to a number of residents in the community.
Jaichan Jaikaran stated that he was visited by two GWI staffers who presented a list to him claiming that they were there to disconnect his water supply since he owed the company $5000. However, the man had claimed that he received a GWI bill, which showed that the outstanding balance was $650 but when he showed the staff, they insisted that he was on the disconnection list.
He noted that he then told the men that he will go right away to make the payment, but he was told that because he is already on the list, they will disconnect him. He added that the men then suggested that he give them a part of the reconnection fee.
To avoid any altercation with the two men – one of whom he recognised, Jaikaran stated that he gave them the money and then visited a GWI office to make his payments where he discovered that he was defrauded.