Another team leaves for well-drilling training in US

Georgetown: A team from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), along with two contractors will benefit from a one-week training in Oklahoma City, United States from May 8-12.

The 20th Annual Resource Drilling Fundamental training seminar aims to provide efficient and effective drilling capability. This was disclosed by GWI’s Managing Director Dr. Richard Van West-Charles, during a press briefing today, at GWI’s boardroom, Vlissengen Road.

Dr. Van West-Charles explained that the company needs to continue to update itself with the new technologies in order to provide a certain degree of efficiency on well development and maintenance, as well as well drilling techniques. He noted that the training also signals the intent of having a partnership with contractors in achieving their mission to provide potable water to all Guyanese.

He recalled that in the 1980s that the water company had the capacity to do most of the work but now the majority is being done by contractors. “I do believe as a company, we also have to have drilling capability to drill their wells with the use of the contracting community to assist in large number of wells,” the managing director added.

According to, Dr. Van West-Charles, during his attendance at a training seminar held at Holland, he viewed different approaches on drilling wells especially along river banks. He explained that the company has encountered some challenges in the hinterland Regions of One, Eight and Nine due to their soil types.

Additionally, Executive Director of Operations, Dwayne Shako who attended the first fundamental training seminar, and is now attending this second one, the training showed him different approaches in drilling wells especially his interaction with experienced drillers.

The remaining participants expressed their gratitude for being provided the opportunity to learn new things, and hoped that their experience will encourage others to attend such training seminars.

Those participating in the training are Executive Director, Design of Infrastructure for Water Supply Demand and Water Resources Aubrey Roberts, Executive Director of Operations Dwayne Shako, Water Resources Manager Orin Browne, Engineers Ajay Bissessar and Cleon French and Lionel Wordsworth of Jagmohan Contracting Services and Courtney Benn.