After months of expecting water from a new well that was established at Mara along the Upper East Bank Berbice (EBB), Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) residents are still to access the benefits of this project.
A well drilled to a depth of 460 feet are replaced to previous one, which was out of service, is still to provide water to residents of that community.
Residents of Mara and surrounding communities had been out of water for over four years and in 2017, the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) Commissioned a $5 million well but that outlived its usefulness and the need for a new one arose in 2024.
Glendon Lewis of Mara Trait Scheme said that the new well was completed in September and residents were promised that it would have become operable by November.
GWI officials including CEO Sheik Baksh visiting the Mara well in October 2024 (GWI photo)3
“Where I am living to where the well is, is half of the area; between Jermina and Mara Trait, and I am not getting one drop of water for months now. Thank God for the rain so that we can get water to use,” he said.
In October, officials from GWI visited the project to inspect the development of the well.
It is expected to supply clean, reliable water to households, including the primary and nursery schools, health centre, and police station. It will be powered by a solar system; the well will ensure sustainable water access.
“It is the little rain water we use for cooking and drinking, and we have to use the trench water to wash. Nobody has gotten any water from this new well as yet,” Lewis added. (G4)
