Dear Editor,
In September 2024, as the Vice President of the Youth arm of the Alliance For Change (AFC) the Youth For Change (YFC) issued a public appeal to Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), urging the state owned utility company to address the persistent water woes affecting communities across Guyana. I continue to plea for access to safe, reliable potable water. All across the length and breadth of Guyana citizens have been .aking the same plea. Water is a fundamental right, and GWI must do better in delivering this essential service.
Almost two years later, my appeal remains just as relevant.
Today, Guyanese are being told about plans for GWI to enter the bottled water market. This has been one of the most unpredictable nonsense I have seen in years. While there may be economic opportunities in local manufacturing and value-added production, the priorities appear to be misplaced. A utility that has not yet consistently fulfilled its core mandate should not be asking citizens to purchase bottled water when many are still struggling to receive reliable potable water through their household taps. Did I just say many? Almost half the population does not have access to potable water.
The reality on the ground tells a very different story from the glossy announcements. In June 2025, residents of East La Penitence endured nearly two weeks without a reliable water supply, forcing many families to purchase bottled water simply to cook, bathe and carry out basic household activities. On the Essequibo Coast, GWI itself warned residents to expect prolonged disruptions because of operational challenges. In Plegt Anker, East Bank Berbice, the utility acknowledged that an existing well had deteriorated to the point where it could no longer adequately meet the needs of the community, requiring rehabilitation. Even in the hinterland, government announcements about new wells have highlighted that many communities are only now receiving dependable access to potable water after years of inadequate service.
These are not isolated incidents. They point to a broader challenge that continues to affect thousands of Guyanese.
It is therefore very difficult to understand why the conversation has shifted toward selling bottled water when so many citizens still cannot confidently rely on the water flowing from their taps.
There is has been quite a social media outrage to GWI’s announcement where one facebook user said “This the type of water I wanna see coming through my taps first. Why we gotta pay for water that is not even potable? Bare rust and stinky smells smh” and another user said “Omg when is the government gonna come up with a plan for clean water to get into our homes?”
Potable water is needed every day, not only for drinking, but also for cooking, washing dishes, bathing children, maintaining proper hygiene and carrying out countless household tasks. When families are uncertain about the quality or reliability of their water supply, asking them to purchase bottled water from the very agency responsible for providing safe water borders on being disrespectful. And GWI is known for this disrespectful behavior because when persons call customer service there is either no answer or poor customer service, so residents will have a longer time for their essential service to be looked at.
Guyanese should not be placed in a position where they are effectively paying twice: once through taxes and water tariffs to support the national water utility, and again at the supermarket to purchase bottled water because the public service they already finance has fallen short of expectations.
As Vice President of the YFC in 2024, I called for accountability, urgency and improved service delivery. Those calls deserve renewed attention today. Before GWI seeks to compete in the bottled water market, it should first demonstrate that every Guyanese household can enjoy consistent access to clean, safe and reliable potable water through the public distribution system.
Guyana is the land of many water and is therefore blessed with abundant freshwater resources. The true measure of success is not how many bottles of water GWI can sell, but whether every citizen from Georgetown to the Essequibo Coast, from Berbice to the hinterland can turn on a tap with confidence, knowing that the water is safe, reliable and fit for everyday use.
Until that goal is achieved, GWI should cancel the notion of having bottled water for sale and more on delivering the quality public service that every Guyanese deserves.
Yours truly,
Onix A. Duncan
Politician/Advocate
