– President Ali highlights major expansion in treated-water access since 2020

PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali has pointed to the significant progress made in Guyana’s development since 2020, highlighting the expansion of access to treated water as one example of the transformation taking place across the country.
Dr Ali was at the time addressing hundreds of Guyanese at a meet-and-greet at the Jericho Palace Banquet Hall in Queens, New York, where he acknowledged that development challenges remain, but said the gains made over the past six years should not be overlooked.
He pointed specifically to access to treated water, noting that the proportion of the population with such access had increased substantially since 2020.
“100 per cent of people don’t have treated water, but we forget that from 2020 to now we have moved it from 45 per cent to 85 per cent,” the President said.
Against this backdrop, Dr Ali said Guyana’s development must also be viewed within the context of the country’s geography and population distribution, noting that infrastructural investment does not always produce the same returns in densely and sparsely populated areas.
The Head of State’s remarks came as the government continues to invest heavily in expanding and improving the country’s water infrastructure, with the 2026 mid-year report showing significant works across coastal and hinterland communities.
During the first half of this year, $2.9 billion was spent from the $21.6 billion allocated to efforts aimed at ensuring nationwide access to safe and reliable potable water.

Work advanced on wells at several locations, including Westminster, Yarrowkabra, Melanie Damishana, No. 56 Village, Johanna and Yakusari, with those projects expected to be completed in the second half of the year.
Government is also moving ahead with new wells at Vergenoegen, Central Ruimveldt, Better Hope and Port Mourant, which are expected to benefit more than 100,000 residents when completed.
Extensions to transmission and distribution systems are also planned for several communities and are expected to provide first-time access to more than 6,500 residents. Collectively, those initiatives are projected to benefit more than 106,500 residents.
The hinterland has also seen continued investment, with $430.4 million spent during the first half of 2026 under the hinterland water supply programme.
More than 30 new wells were completed in communities including Mora, Siriki, Baracara, Kamarang, Micobie, Kwatamang and Old England, benefitting more than 10,000 residents. An elevated trestle water system was also completed at Kangaruma, while a solar photovoltaic system was installed at Isseneru in Region Seven.
Further works are planned in the second half of the year, including wells at Port Kaituma, Mabaruma, Lower Moraikobai, Orealla, Siparuta, Batavia, Campbelltown, Mahdia, Sand Hills and Ebini.
Meanwhile, a new water treatment plant commissioned at Five Miles-Bartica is expected to serve approximately 6,000 residents.
Five additional water treatment plants at Maria’s Delight, Wakenaam, Leguan, Adventure and Bath are also on schedule for completion this year. Along with the new surface water treatment plant at Hope and more than 33 kilometres of transmission infrastructure from Cane Grove to Cove and John, the projects are expected to benefit more than 90,000 residents.
President Ali said the development taking place across Guyana should be recognised despite the challenges that remain.
“The reality is that people who don’t love their country, people who don’t have any desire to see anything good out of anything, cannot see anything anywhere,” he said.