Minister Susan Rodrigues Engages Johanna Cecilia Residents on Development Initiatives

Minister Susan Rodrigues Engages Johanna Cecilia Residents on Development Initiatives

Residents of Johanna Cecilia on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two, participated in a community engagement on Monday with Minister within the Ministry of Housing Water, Hon. Susan Rodrigues. The meeting provided a platform for residents to discuss key issues affecting their community and gain firsthand insights into the government’s ongoing development initiatives. This engagement is part of the administration’s continued efforts to ensure transparency, inclusivity, and citizen participation in national development.

Minister Rodrigues was accompanied by Regional Chairperson, Ms. Vilma De Silva, Prime Ministerial Representative, Mr. Arnold Adams, and representatives from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), along with other technical officers.

In her address, Minister Rodrigues highlighted the transformative developments taking place under the leadership of President Dr. Irfaan Ali. She emphasized the government’s commitment to improving infrastructure, healthcare, and education despite challenges.

Minister Susan Rodrigues during her remarks to Johanna Cecilia residents.

In the education sector, Minister Rodrigues noted that Guyana has achieved universal primary education and is on the path to attaining universal secondary education. Significant investments have been made to enhance learning facilities, expand access to quality education, and ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed.

Speaking on housing, she underscored the government’s aggressive efforts to address the demand for affordable housing. Over 41,000 house lots have been allocated since 2020—an exponential increase compared to the 7,000 distributed between 2015 and 2020. She also highlighted the government’s commitment to empowering women, pointing out that more than 40% of these allocations have been granted to women over the past four years. She reaffirmed that the President Ali-led administration remains dedicated to ensuring equitable access to opportunities for all Guyanese, regardless of their background.

“We want to give all the different pockets of society the opportunity to grow and thrive in this modern economy,” Minister Rodrigues stated.

Some of the residents at the community engagement.

In the water sector, the Minister reiterated the government’s target of increasing treated water coverage from 52% in 2020 to 90% by the end of 2025 and provided updates on projects in Region Two. The new Onderneeming Water Treatment Plant, which is currently in its testing phase and will soon be commissioned, serving residents from Supenaam to Taymouth Manor. A new treatment plant in also in the works at Maria’s Lodge, which will extend coverage to communities from Charity to Walton Hall. She further stated that rehabilitation works were executed on the old Lima treatment plant, expanding coverage. Minister Rodrigues also explained that as part of its strategic plan, in some areas GWI installs smaller treatment systems to enhance water quality. To address Lima Sands, a $100 million contract was signed in February for the installation of inline filters. Mobilization is ongoing and the project is expected to be completed within four months, significantly improving residents’ access to clean water.

During the meeting, residents had the opportunity to voice their concerns directly to Minister Rodrigues and her team. The engagement allowed for one-on-one discussions, ensuring that community members’ issues were acknowledged and addressed.