Residents of several villages in Mabaruma now have access to potable water. The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has presented jerrycans to indigenous leaders at the Regional Toshaos and Community Development Council (CDC) Chairpersons Conference on Monday. The jerrycans are designed to instantly sterilize untreated water without the use of chlorine or the need to boil for consumption.
Three jerrycans were each given to the communities by Managing Director of
Managing Director of GWI, Dr Richard Van West-Charles, handing over one of the jerrycans to Nicholas Lewis, CDC Chairperson of Waikerbi
GWI, Dr Richard Van-West Charles. The villages which can now improve the quality of water they consume include Smith Creek, Black Water Savannah and Waikerbi.
CDC Chairperson, Leroy Ramit of Black Water Savannah, has said he is very thankful for the GWI’s efforts. “I am more than grateful for this, because, in our area, potable water… is very, very hard to get; and with the filters it will be better, especially for the youths, because during the dry season we get a lot of diarrhoea, vomiting, and water-borne diseases. So, I am thankful to GWI for this step,” he expressed.
Sherman Lewis, CDC Chairperson of Smith Creek, also pointed out that the jerrycans would assist in preventing water-borne diseases from affecting communities. “I think it would be very helpful to the community, because we (had) already received some filters from the Red Cross, and since then we did not have another situation with the diarrhoea. So this what we have now will be more helpful,” Lewis explained.
GWI representatives gave demonstrations to the leaders of the Indigenous communities on how to use the jerrycans. An additional 40 jerrycans are slated to arrive in Mabaruma on Tuesday. These will be distributed to the 10 communities of Barima Koriabo, Black Water, Hobodia, Hotiquai, Imbotero, Red Hill, Three Brothers, Aruka Mouth, St. Dominics and Lower Kaituma.
The GWI Managing Director has said that plans are also in place to have a large filter placed in Mabaruma, so that more persons would have access to potable water. According to a GINA report, the filter is expected to be installed as soon as Cabinet grants its approval.
