Dear Editor,
For almost five years, the residents of Timehri – particularly Hyde Park, Timehri Hill Top, Timehri North, and some sections of the Docks area and Base Road – have been living with ongoing water shortages. A situation that has now moved far beyond inconvenience. This past weekend was yet another weekend of absolutely no water in large sections of the community. What we are experiencing is a pattern of broken promises, stalled projects, and silence, even as millions of dollars have been allocated to fix the problem.
In February 2024, GWI advertised tenders for the drilling of two new potable water wells in Timehri:
GWI–GOG–W033-2024 – Potable Water Well at Timehri No. 1
GWI–GOG–W034-2024 – Potable Water Well at Timehri No. 2
Each project carried a budget of $19 million, amounting to $38 million for Timehri alone, and close to $50 million when related works are included.
Tender link: https://dpi.gov.gy/guyana-water-inc-invitation-for-bids-drilling-of-potable-water-wells/[1]
These tenders were invited, closed, evaluated, and, by all indications, awarded. Yet today, residents still do not know: Who the contractors are. When work was supposed to begin. When it is expected to be completed. Whether any payments have been made. What progress, if any, has actually been achieved.
Despite the money allocated and the promises made, the community continues to go weeks without water, including weekends and holiday periods when families need it most.
This is especially troubling given that, in 2021, the Ministry of Housing & Water publicly acknowledged the ongoing issues and promised relief. https://mohw.gov.gy/2021/08/24/guyana-water-inc-exploring-all-possible-solutions-to-end-water-woes-at-timehri-north/[2] That same year, GWI announced plans to resuscitate the “Timehri-number 5” well and in 2024, new well-drilling projects were funded and tendered. https://www.stabroeknews.com/2021/09/28/news/guyana/gwi-to-boost-service-levels-in-timehri/[3]
Yet in 2025, the taps in Timehri remain dry.
Adding insult to injury, water bills continue to arrive, often at the same or higher amounts, even though entire sections of the community receive little to no water for days or weeks at a time. This is simply unfair.
On behalf of the residents of Timehri, we are calling for immediate clarity:
• Publish the names of the contractors who were awarded the well projects.
• Release the official project timelines and status reports.
• Disclose how the nearly $50 million allocated has been spent.
• Explain the continued delays and lack of communication.
• Adjust bills or provide rebates to reflect the service actually received.
Access to water is not a privilege. It is a basic human right. Timehri residents have been patient, reasonable, and hopeful for far too long. Now we are simply asking for transparency, accountability, and action.