aggressive housing programme also underway

WITH the government on a quest to achieve 100 per cent access to water across the hinterland by 2025, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal revealed that there is currently 75 per cent coverage, which is expected to increase to 85 per cent by the end of 2023.

The minister made these remarks on Wednesday, as he made a presentation on the government’s plan in the sector at the ongoing National Toshao’s Conference, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Croal told the gathering that the government has a mandate to provide access to clean water in all communities across Guyana. While the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (six) aims to provide clean and sustainable water for all by 2030, the Housing Ministry is aiming to achieve this target by 2025.

Against this backdrop, he added that more than $2 billion has been invested in the hinterland since the government entered office in 2020 and another $1.4 billion is being invested this year.

He added, “Prior to August 2020 the hinterland coverage was only at 46 per cent of the population. It has already been increased to 75 per cent by the end of 2022 and targeted to achieve 85 per cent by the end of 2023.”

The Minister noted that they hope to achieve 100 per cent access to water services to all riverine and hinterland communities by 2025.

Thus far, he noted that over 40 new wells have been completed to provide service to over 15,000 persons for the first time. This includes the construction of elevated storage systems with tanks, photovoltaic systems and service connections to residents.

Along with this, he added that 40 new wells are expected to be completed in 2023 and another 40 in 2024 in the hinterland regions. Giving a breakdown, he said that 14 wells are set for Region One, six in Regions Two, Four and 10, five in Region Seven, four in Region Eight and 11 in Region Nine.

Meanwhile, on the housing side of things, Croal revealed that the government has committed to pushing an aggressive hinterland housing programme. In this first phase he noted that the CDC in some areas that were previously affected by floods had asked for assistance in relocating residents.

However, he noted that for villages that have not had engagements for the housing programme, within one month’s time all communities will be engaged for consultation as part of this aggressive housing drive.

Across Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine, some 300 houses are expected to be allocated as part of the first phase with house types being elevated timber and flat clay brick.