OPEN LETTER TO THE NAWEC MD AND MANAGEMENT Dear NAWEC Managing Director and Management, Please allow me to start by making the following disclaimer: I am writing to you as a private citizen, a concerned Gambian, and a NAWEC customer and not in any other capacity. On August 3, 2018, I came home to find a water bill of over D5000 (five thousand dalasi) waiting for me. Apparently, the previous resident at my house was not paying his bills or so the bill suggested. I had only been in the house since March and could possibly not have consumed over D5000 worth of water during that period. A couple of days later, I came home to find that my water service had been shut off by Nawec. While working out how to take care of the lack of payment by the previous resident, I took the so-called bull by the so-called horns and paid the huge bill. I also paid D200 to be reconnected. Today again, September 9, I came home from a trip to find another bill, dated today, for D7, 558 (Seven thousand five hundred and fifty eight dalasi). I suspect that in a few days time, I will come home to find my water supply shut off yet again. So, I am just confused as to what is going on. Whatever happened to the over D5,000 I paid barely a month ago? Does it not register in your payment system? I know I paid in cash (not check) and received a duly signed receipt which I have. And so I can't imagine how I could possibly consume D7,558 of water within a month. I could have gone to the billing office to argue my case. However, I suspect there are many other Nawec customers who have faced or are facing similar ridiculous billing issues. That is why I am posting this open letter here on social media and will share with the local media too so as to bring this problem to your attention and to initiate a conversation and reflection on just what is going on in your water billing system or department. This is a very serious issue that needs urgent attention and a permanent solution. I hope my water is not shut off again before you get to the bottom of this baffling situation. Thank you. Baba Galleh Jallow Concerned Citizen and NAWEC Customer