– Minister Rodrigues highlights achievements since 2020

USING 2020 as a baseline, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, stated that Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) was in “poor shape” financially and in its delivery of services to the people of Guyana when her government assumed office.
Speaking during the Ministry of Housing and Water’s annual year-end press conference, Rodrigues detailed the dismal state of GWI, describing the company as bankrupt and burdened with significant financial liabilities.
“The company was bankrupt, and bank balances had been significantly reduced during the five years of the previous government. There was no subvention from the central government to support operations, resulting in GWI owing GPL approximately $7 million over that period,” she said.
Additionally, GWI owed hundreds of millions to suppliers, and there was no comprehensive maintenance plan for water treatment plants and pump stations. This lack of planning, Rodrigues explained, led to poor service levels and substandard water quality nationwide.
Further compounding the issues, GWI had no inventory of essential items such as meters and fittings to maintain its assets, which had fallen into disrepair. The Minister also highlighted breaches of procurement laws, including irregularities in the purchase of chemicals like Sequest, used for temporary water treatment.

Despite these challenges, Minister Rodrigues emphasised her government’s commitment to improving water access and quality, in line with its manifesto promises.
“We committed to ensuring that water rates remain affordable, and we have delivered on that promise,” Rodrigues stated. The government absorbed rising fuel costs—one of GWI’s primary inputs—to prevent tariff increases for consumers. Since 2020, water tariffs have been reduced by 5 per cent.
Rodrigues criticised the previous administration for removing the water subsidy for pensioners, a decision her government reversed immediately upon taking office. “We reinstated the water subsidy to our pensioners, demonstrating our commitment to caring for vulnerable groups,” she noted.

The government also developed a strategic plan to expand treated water access across coastal regions. This initiative includes upgrading water distribution and transmission systems in urban, rural, and hinterland areas.
One of GWI’s notable achievements is reducing non-revenue water from 70% in 2020 to 63%. This improvement has been supported by the installation of 70,000 new water meters over the last four years, enabling better monitoring and reducing water loss.
An expansive programme to repair leaks promptly has further enhanced water quality and service reliability.

Minister Rodrigues concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to transforming Guyana’s water sector. “We are delivering on our promises and addressing decades-old issues to provide clean, reliable, and affordable water to all Guyanese,” she stated.
The achievements and ongoing initiatives reflect a revitalised GWI, prepared to meet the demands of a growing nation while ensuring sustainability and equity in water access.