Honourable Minister Susan Rodrigues, the Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, is engaging Toshaos from communities in and around Lethem, Region 9, at the Regional Toshao’s Conference.

The event is being held at the Amerindian Conference Hall, and will run for two days, with participation from Toshaos and Senior Councilors from more than 58 villages in the region.

Also, in attendance are Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Andre Ally, GWI’s Hinterland Services Director, Mr. Ramchand Jailal and other technical staff.

In her remarks, the Minister outlined that to date more than 90% of development projects in the region have been completed as planned from 2022 to 2023. This is in addition to a number of commitments made by His Excellency, President Irfaan Ali.

Speaking to targets, she added that the administration will ensure 100% access to clean and potable water by 2025. This is five years earlier than what is set out by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“We will ensure access to clean and safe  water for all by 2030 and we are going to do it 5 years earlier, We have 230 hinterland communities across the country, and our investments in the water sector will ensure this”.

The Minister pointed out that overall, 97% of Guyana’s population has access to clean potable water. However, for the hinterland and riverine communities there is 75% coverage and by the end of 2023, with investments being made the coverage will increase to 83%.

“When we came into government, it stood at 46%, in less than 3 years we were able to increase that by 30% and that is as a direct result of investments made.”

Speaking on some of these investments, she stated that the water sector saw an injection of 2 billion dollars from August 2020 to date, and another $1.4 billion will be spent in 2023.

Under the 2023 work program, water supply systems in Aranaputa, Moco Moco, Sand Creek, Karasabai, Wowetta, Quiko, Massara, Baitoon, Crashwater, Kattur, Tiger Pond, Kumu and Bashaidrun will be extended.

Also, the drilling of deep wells and extension of distribution networks will be done in Kaicumbay Village, Aishalton, Awarewarnau, Maruranau, Potarinau, Hiowa, Parishara, Semonie, Quatata, Shiriri, Katoonarib, Fairview and Rupertee.

Meanwhile, on the housing front, some 10 communities have been identified in Region 9, to benefit from the Hinterland Housing Program. These communities are: Shiriri, Parabara, Crash Water, Yakarinta, Quatata, Nappi, Tiger Pond, Yurong Peru, Rupanau and Shea.

Meanwhile, the Minister also used the opportunity to commend the villages that have already started planning for the benefits from the Carbon credit.

“We believe in allowing people to engineer their own development, we make ourselves available in communities and your feedback is critical. We can’t unanimously decide what’s best for you in your communities”.

Also, persons were given the opportunity to raise issues affecting them and seek the Minister’s intervention.