North Rupununi sees three new multi-million-dollar wells commissioned

Almost 1500 residents of the North Rupununi, (Region Nine), will benefit from first time access
to potable water, as three new water distribution systems were commissioned in Aranaputa,
Wowetta and Rupertee on Saturday.
The distribution systems cost over $100M with $37.2M for the system at Aranaputa, $25.8M for
one in Rupertee and $27.2M for another in Wowetta. It was disclosed that the systems were
jointly funded by the Guyana Government, through the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and
the Caribbean Development Bank’s Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), under the Finance
Ministry. It was pointed out that the scope of works for the respective projects included
installation of a distribution network to facilitate household level service for the first time, and
the construction of a storage facility for adequate supply and improved level of service.
Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, and Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal, officially
handed over the water supply systems to the respective communities. The ministers were joined
by Regional Chairman, Brian Allicock and Regional Executive Officer, Karl Singh among other
technical officers from the finance ministry. Minister Singh in his remarks, said that when the
Government took office in 2020, potable water coverage in the hinterland was at mere 6o per
cent. However, immediately the government, through the Housing and Water Ministry developed
a strategic plan that will result in 100 per cent coverage in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine
and the riverine communities on the coast, by the end of the administration’s first term in office.
He noted further that in Aranaputa, prior to the new system only 20 percent of the population
were receiving potable water; 25 percent in Wowetta and 50 percent in Rupertee. Dr. Singh
pointed out that today, all residents of those communities are receiving potable water to their
homes through standpipes. The finance minister spent some time outlining some of the major
transformational projects in the pipeline for the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region,
including the construction of the Linden to Mabura road and the construction of 32 bridges along
the Linden to Lethem corridor.
“It means immediately, connectivity will be improved once the bridges are completed. It means
that jobs will be created and economic activities generated, construction materials will have to be
purchased, construction workers will have to be working on those bridges. And so, even during
the construction phase you will see economic activity being generated for all of the communities
along the alignment of that road,” Dr. Singh explained to the residents. Dr. Singh went on to
revealed President Ali’s ‘One Guyana’ vision, which is not only an emotional concept evolving
around unity, but ensuring that economic development is delivered to each and every community
throughout the country.
Minister Croal disclosed that while over 75 percent of Region Nine villagers have access to
potable water, the aim he stressed, is to have 100 percent coverage by 2025. He said that with the
commissioning of three new wells in the North Rupununi, over 90 percent of those communities
will now have access to potable water. Croal revealed that this year, a total of five wells will be
drilled in Region Nine through GWI. He said another well will be drilled in the region by the
regional administration in Sand Creek and another by BNTF in Surama.

“As a government, we are committed to ensuring that every village, regardless of location or
political persuasions, your location, your race or background, every citizen will be on the same
path of development,” Croal explained. He added that Community Support Officers (CSOs) of
the communities were also trained and equipped to manage and maintain the systems in the
respective villages.