Region 6, GWI reach agreement on monies owed
Chairman of Region Six, David Armogan, yesterday stated that an arrangement has been worked out between the region and the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) for repaying money owed to the water company.
Armogan, however, noted that the region is also seeking further clarification on the amount the company is claiming is owed to it.
Last week, the water supply to several schools in New Amsterdam and other areas was cut after it was discovered that the Region Six administration owed GWI some $ 61 million for water supplied to institutions which fall under its control.
However, after an intervention from Regional Executive Officer Kim Stephens, the supply to the institutions was restored.
“There is a system worked out amicably to both parties so that the money can be (paid) over time,” Armogan related yesterday. Additionally, he explained that the region is only allocated a certain amount of money per year to pay for utilities, and added that the increase in the use of utilities by the various companies has played a major role in the region owing GWI.
“They were saying it was over four, five years period. They were saying that we were not paying enough every year to cover because maybe we didn’t budget enough because they keep increasing and we budget historically for those things; what is it last year we just add on a couple dollars more,” he stated.
However, the REO acknowledged that the sum it is claimed they owe remains in question. “We still have some query as it regards the number— we don’t believe it’s $ 61 million, it should be far less than that because we have been paying over the years,” Armogan said.