St. Cuthbert’s Mission commissions $8.1M water supply system

St. Cuthbert’s Mission situated in Region 4 now boasts of significantly improved water supply
with the commissioning of an $8.1M upgraded and expanded water supply system which is
benefitting some 700 residents. More than 300 residents are receiving potable water from the
700 residents for the first time as a result of the Guyana Government funded project
Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in-house staff executed the project along with the village
council and a local contractor was used to refurbish a metal trestle.  It entailed the upgrading of
the distribution system, trestle rehabilitation, leak repairs, well head rehabilitation and discharge
and the installation of new service connections. This forms part of a commitment made by Junior
Housing and Water Minister, Susan Rodrigues who commissioned the system on Wednesday,
20 th  October, 2021.

Minister Rodrigues said in her feature address that 90 percent of the community is benefitting
from the upgraded water supply system. This, she said is in comparison to the 35 percent that
was being served before the upgrade. Rodrigues said that the system was in dire need of an
upgrade since this wasn’t done in several years. As such, the upgrade was done and the system
now has the capacity to serve twice as many residents that it is currently serving. Rodrigues took
the opportunity to remind of the importance of ensuring that residents are satisfied with the
service they are receiving and that maximum service is achieved from the project. She reiterated
to the residents that no effort will be spared in this regard.
The junior minister noted that there is also a need to ensure that the system is maintained even as
she urged the Village Council to take ownership of the system. Rodrigues expressed thanks to
the GWI technical team responsible for the execution of the project, expressing gratitude as well
as the community members for their cooperation. The minister used the opportunity to highlight
that before the end of 2021, five new wells will be drilled along the Linden/Soesdyke highway in
the communities of Swan, Kuru Kuru, Kairuni, Long Creek and Moblissa.
Permanent Secretary within the Housing and Water Ministry, Andre Ally highlighted that in
2021, a programme of $344M is being executed in the Hinterland regions (1, 7, 8 & 9) to provide
potable water to communities there. He said this includes the drilling of new wells, the upgrading
of water supply systems and the installation of Photovoltaic systems. PS Ally noted that Guyana
is edging closer to realizing the goal of equal access to potable water in the hinterland as on the
coastland. He said that his Ministry and by extension GWI has been delivering and will continue
to deliver in this area. Meanwhile, Executive Director of Hinterland Services of GWI,
Ramchand Jailal assured that the water produced by the well is safe for consumption and no
additional treatment is needed.
He stressed that training will be done with community representatives on the operation and
maintenance of the system, solar power, water quality, among other areas. The Hinterland

Director urged the community to maintain the system and in this regard suggested that a water
committee be established by the Village Council to have oversight. Timothy Andrews, Toshao of
St. Cuthbert’s Mission, said that the water supply system is yet another promise fulfilled by the
Government of Guyana.
Andrews stated that residents will now be able to enjoy a better quality of life with the upgraded
and expanded system. He expressed confidence that the system will ensure not only easy access
to water but an efficient and regular water supply for the community. Toshao Andrews thanked
all those involved in the execution of the project. Residents expressed appreciation and
satisfaction with Minister Rodrigues’s intervention to improve the water supply in the
community. Among the beneficiaries of this project are Nursery, Primary and Secondary
schools, Health Centre and Teachers’ quarters.
There still remain approximately 30 households on the outskirts of the village without water access
and GWI will be working closely with the village council to ensure that these residents too gain
access. The commissioning ceremony was hosted at the St. Cuthbert’s mission Primary School.