GWI to assist over outbreak of diarrhoea at Kamarang
-says had no part in aborted well
The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) says it will provide technical help to the community of Kamarang following an outbreak of diarrhoea which has been blamed on the lack of potable water.
In a statement yesterday, GWI disclaimed any responsibility for an aborted well in the community which was supposed to provide potable water to residents.
GWI cited an article on the inewsguyana.com website which suggested that GWI was responsible for the outbreak of diarrhoea at Kamarang in Region Seven.
GWI said that the article pointed to a well that was being drilled by GWI and also reported Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton as saying “It (the well) only reached to 50 feet and it was halted. I am concerned about that and I want GWI to explain the situation”.
GWI said it wished to categorically state that the well in question was not a project being undertaken by GWI but by the Caribbean Development Bank-funded Basic Needs Trust Fund.
Nonetheless, GWI said it is treating this report with importance and will be sending a team to assess the situation and provide technical solutions.
The team will be led by Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for water, Dawn Hastings. GWI said that the minister will be accompanied by GWI’s Managing Director Dr. Richard Van WestCharles and Executive Director of Project Implementation & Partnership Building, Ramchand Jailal among other experts.
The team of GWI officials will be taking a number of Lifesaver filters to distribute to Kamarang today.
The filters will enable access to potable water, GWI said.