Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman on Saturday, February 10, 2018, commissioned the newly constructed reservoir in Nappi Village, Region 9, in the presence of Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock and the Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe.
The reservoir is the result of a US$1.25 million (GY$262.5 million) contribution from Cataleya Energy Limited.
During brief remarks, Ryan Pereira of Cataleya Energy Limited, noted that the reservoir will hold some 4.5 million cubic metres of water when filled to capacity, and will directly benefit 3,000 persons from Nappi and surrounding communities.
He said the reservoir will reduce the community’s vulnerability to drought and urged the community to further utilise the reservoir to build social and economic resilience.
“I hope it helps with agriculture, with tourism, with cottage industries, and its transformative potential is realised,” he said.
This message was underscored by Vice President Allicock and Minister Trotman, both of whom urged the community to use the reservoir for its collective benefit.
They noted that the reservoir could be used for accessing drinking water, to support agriculture and aquaculture, and propel the community’s overall development.
According to the DPI’s website, Minister Trotman stressed the need for the community to take ownership of the reservoir, saying, “That water is clean and can be consumed not just by residents but by the animals also, it is meant to be used to transform your lives… it is yours, you will decide how you will use it for your joint and equal benefits….Don’t see this as another project being handed over, it is time you stand up and start taking care of it.”
This project was identified for support by private sector companies in the Ministry of Natural Resources’ 2017 – 2020 Corporate Social Responsibility Framework. Its conceptualisation followed the 2015 – 2016 drought, which was the second worst in Guyana’s history and negatively affected every facet of life in Region 9 communities.
It supports efforts by the Ministries of Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Communities, the Civil Defence Commission, and Conservation International – Guyana to implement sustainable solutions that lessen the impact of future drought phenomena in Region 9 communities.
Cataleya Energy Limited shared its delight in being able to support this project and signaled its continued commitment to supporting the work of communities across Guyana.
Cataleya Energy Limited (formerly Ratio Energy Limited) has been around since 2012 and was one of the early companies that invested in Guyana’s offshore oil and gas sector. It is a partner in the Kaieteur Block, operated by Exxon Mobil, in partnership with Ratio Guyana Limited.
