Mr. Bonar told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that he is satisfied with the quality of work being done and the pace at which the contractor is proceeding.

Contracts totalling $562M were awarded to UEM Incorporated and Toolsie Persaud Limited/GUYCO for this major water project along the East Bank Demerara. The project will provide treated water for approximately 65,000 residents living in the villages from Eccles to Friendship.

The Government of Guyana and the World Bank are funding the project, which entails the rehabilitation of the existing treatment plants on the East Bank and the entire distribution and transmission network of pipelines.

Residents of the new Diamond/Grove Housing scheme will also receive treated water from the improved system that will be completed within a year.

TPL/GUYCO Project Engineer, Mr. Kumar Persaud, said they began the laying of transmission lines in Diamond/Grove about a week ago and it is estimated that the laying of the transmission lines will be completed within another month. The entire water distribution network in Diamond is already in place.

Transmission lines are also being laid along the Mocha/Arcadia main road to improve the water service in that area. Mr. Bonar explained that on completion of the project, residents of Mocha/Arcadia will receive treated water. He noted that residents in that area are receiving water from a well in the village, but that water is not treated.

Resident Engineer of Atkins International Consulting Engineers, Mr. Derrick Main, said the project is moving ahead smoothly and that the materials are of good quality.

Mr. Main noted that this is his first time in Guyana and that he has been warmly welcomed. He pointed out that Guyanese are very friendly and he looked forward to working with the local people.

Some three kilometers of transmission lines are being laid along the main road at Diamond while 3.2 kilometers are being laid along the Mocha/Arcadia main road.

Other treatment plants in the country are being rehabilitated and constructed as part of the water sector modernisation programme. The treatment plant at Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) and La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara, are also being rehabilitated, while new treatment plants have been constructed at Rose Hall, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and Pouderoyen, Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands).

The Pouderoyen major water project has been completed and the Rose Hall project is expected to be completed by year-end.

Mr. Bonar noted that the rehabilitation and construction of the major water projects have been in the planning stage for some time and that GWI is very happy that the projects are moving ahead.