WITHIN the last three years the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Housing and Water have invested more then $765 million in the water sector in Region Two (Pomeroon /Supenaam ) to ensure that all of the residents have easy access to safe water. Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, made this disclosure during the commissioning ceremony of  the Somerset Well Station, a Government of Guyana funded project on Thursday in Essequibo .
According to Ali, this well was completed at a cost of $55 million and will benefit more than 5,000 persons in the area.
He said, “Our investment is testimony to equity which is an important  issue in the delivery of water,” adding , “the strategies employed in the riverine and hinterland communities ensure that every citizen regardless of geographic location, race or religion have access to this important service.
In this regard, he also announced the completion of two more wells in the region, Whyaka and Capoey, where there has been an improved distribution system to critical services such as Health centres and schools.
In addition to this, the Lima Water Treatment Plant also located on the Essequibo Coast has been completed at a cost of $400 million and, according to Ali, is set to be commissioned before the end of the year.
He noted that the Lima Plant is an excellent model for small developing sectors in terms of the removal of iron and improved water quality and has already generated foreign interest.
Ali urged those present to recognise that all aspects of development are linked to each other.
“Development is linked as all housing schemes are planned in an integrated way to allow for the provision of water and electricity ,” he said, adding:, “This is important as the 17,000 new house holds will also need access to these services.”
Alluding to the provision of these vital services to the new schemes, he indicated that there is still a great amount of work left to be done but gave his assurance that the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Housing and Water will continue working to ensure  that fundamental services are delivered.
In this regard, he said, “The PPP/C has delivered once more as almost all of the targets set in the manifesto for water and housing have been met.”
According to Regional Chairman, Region Two, Ali Baksh , there has been increasing developments across Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) in all sectors  over the past six years, which will undoubtedly bring tremendous benefits to the residents there.
Alluding to the implications of the new well, Baksh pointed out that as a result of the investment more than 5000 persons will now stand to benefit from the access to the vital commodity.
“Added to this one there are several other wells that were dug by the PPP/C Government from 1992 to now,”  he explained.
Continuing, he noted that there are now nine submersible pumps across the region which provides improved service to everyone, especially the vulnerable groups of women and children.
Baksh urged those present to recall what the situation was like prior to the onset of the increased development, when residents were forced to source water from streams and rivers.
“Those were all very difficult years which have been transformed by activities similar to what we are seeing today,” he stated, adding “This also extends to Amerindian communities and riverine areas as well.”
On this note, he pointed out that the Ministry of Housing and Water has dug several wells and extended pipelines in Mainstay after the residents there have endured decades of using water from the lake itself.
This, he said is a significant event worthy of  recognition since it resulted from millions of dollars in investments on behalf of  the Government of Guyana, a direct demonstration of development with a human factor.
Baksh also said that the region has been privy to improvements in the housing sector as well since 13 new housing schemes have been erected.
“Every year in the budget, at the Regional, Ministerial or National level, we are seeing more and more being invested in Essequibo,” he divulged, adding: “We are also seeing increased access to remote areas only possible through the construction of roads.”
The Chairman indicated that it will become increasingly necessary in the near future for persons to relocate to higher grounds as they are faced with the consequences of rising sea levels.
“This will become a perfect place for them to settle as we continue to spend $1.5 billion a year to permanently maintain our sea defences,” Baksh said.
He encouraged the young persons in the Region to become entrepreneurs so that they will be able to further contribute to the continued development there.
In expressing gratitude to the Administration for all of the improvements to date, Baksh said, “I want to say thank you  for affording us all of these opportunities especially to Minister Ali for the very valuable assistance which will bring about tremendous changes in Region Two.”