– proposed review of taxes, distribution margins

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) and representatives of the bottled water industry have agreed to pursue a collaborative public-private sector initiative aimed at reducing the cost of bottled water, strengthening local manufacturing, and ensuring that the resulting savings are ultimately passed on to consumers.

The agreement follows a further engagement on Wednesday involving Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar, representatives of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), executives of the PSC and private-sector bottled water manufacturers. During the discussions, production costs and distribution margins were identified as the two key factors contributing to the price of bottled water. Against this background, the private sector proposed a two-phase approach to addressing the concerns surrounding the cost and availability of bottled water.