DIRECTOR of Projects at Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Marlon Daniels, has praised President Dr. Irfaan Ali for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to delivering safe, affordable water to all Guyanese.
Daniels’ remarks were made during the President’s recent outreach at Canal Number Two Polder on the West Bank of Demerara.

Daniels, a veteran in the water sector with over a decade of experience working alongside President Ali, highlighted the Head of State’s consistent dedication—both as former Minister of Housing and Water and now as President—to ensuring Guyanese have access to clean, potable water and a better quality of life.

Reflecting on policy milestones, Daniels credited President Ali for introducing the pensioner water subsidy during his ministerial tenure—a support system that was later removed by the APNU+AFC government, who also imposed Value Added Tax (VAT) on water bills.
“One of the first calls that we got when the new government (PPP/C) took office in 2020 was to immediately remove VAT from water,” Daniels recalled. “What VAT did to your water bill was add $16 on every $100 as tax; the second thing was to reintroduce the pensioner subsidy so that pensioners can pay less for water.”

In August 2020, Daniels said President Ali went further by ordering a 5% reduction in water tariffs across the country, effectively returning $27 per $100 spent to the pockets of citizens. He applauded this as a compassionate move aimed at easing the cost of living.
Daniels also lauded the infrastructural developments taking place under the Ali-led administration. He pointed to new and ongoing projects across the country, including the construction of water treatment plants on the islands of Wakenaam and Leguan, which will soon provide residents with treated water directly from their taps.

“The President believes that the people of Wakenaam and Leguan are no less than anyone else,” he asserted.
Additional projects include a fully operational treatment plant in Parika, set to benefit residents as far as Hubu and Farm, and the ongoing construction of facilities in Parfaite Harmonie and Lust En Rust to serve the broader Canal and Nismes areas.
Daniels also addressed upcoming works in Canal Number Two Polder, noting that despite previous challenges with a contractor, a new contractor has been engaged to begin the installation of new water lines in the coming weeks. These lines will connect to the Wales water treatment plant, which was recently commissioned by President Ali.

Underscoring the government’s commitment to long-term sustainability, Daniels said President Ali has directed that all existing treatment plants be rehabilitated and maintained to ensure uninterrupted access to clean water across Guyana.
In a heartfelt message to the President, Daniels declared: “I want to thank you, sir (President Ali), for your leadership. We look forward to the next five years, double, and we are here for you. We [GWI] will work in tandem to ensure that all Guyanese can drink water from their taps.”