– Brazilian Commander inspects ongoing reconnaissance workAs the Government of Guyana, in collaboration with the Government of Brazil through its respective Armies prepare to wrap up a ten-day reconnaissance mission in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine), which will pave the way for the drilling of eight wells in eight villages, the Commanding Officer of the 6th Construction Engineering Battalion of the Brazilian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Vandir Pereira Soares Junior and Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, today, wrapped up a three-day visit to the identified locations to finalise the preparations for October, 2018. The wells are intended to ensure water supply through cyclical dry seasons.During the drilling phase, the Brazilian Army will be working closely with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and this collaboration will see the drilling of artesian wells in the villages of Aishalton, Chukrikednau, Shea, Maruranawa, Awarawaunau, Karaudarnau, Achiwib and Bashraidrun. The reconnaissance mission commenced on March 19 and will run until March 29, 2018. Already, on the ground testing has been completed for more than half of the communities identified.During the three-day visit to the communities, Colonel Vandir and his team along with the team from the CDC were able to visit the proposed locations and to meet with some of the village leaders and residents to identify any potential challenges with regard to access to the communities, particularly the remote villages.In an invited comment, Colonel Craig said that the drilling of the wells is an important part of disaster response and preparedness, particularly during the El Nino season. Importantly too, Guyana is benefitting from the transfer of knowledge and technology with the beneficiaries being the main stakeholders, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the GDF.“The well driving operation is a comprehensive disaster risk management approach to reduce the identified communities risk to the impact of drought. These wells, which are being drilled to approximately 100 meters and the best identified locations would seek ensure that the communities have potable water during prolonged dry seasons and drought conditions. Further, the operation would seek to build the country’s well drilling capacity and ensure valuable knowledge is transfer to the national and local players, which is key for sustainability and drilling of other wells not only in Region Nine but in other vulnerable communities in Regions 1, 2, 7 and 8,” he said.In an effort to stay within the stipulated 60-day project duration, the Brazilians will be bringing three drilling machines and two teams from both Armed Forces will be dispatched to work in conjunction.Mr. Raymond Almando, Toshao of Bashraidrun, a border community with a population of 142, in an invited comment said that the wells will bring significant relief to the residents of the communities identified. Given its remote location, Mr. Almando said that he is pleased that the community has been included in the project.This project follows President David Granger’s State visit to Brazil in December 2017, where the Complementary Agreement to the Basic Agreement on Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Guyana and the Federative Republic of Brazil for the Implementation of the Project Technologies to Reduce the Effects of the Drought in Region Nine of Guyana, was inked.