Government agencies participate in World Water Day Walkathon.

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) held a walkathon exercise this morning, in commemoration of World Water Day on March 22, under the theme ‘Accelerating Change to Solve the Water and Sanitation Crisis’.

Minister within The Ministry of Housing & Water Susan Rodrigues in the company of Chief Executive Officer of GWI, Mr. Shaik Baksh led the exercise, which started at the Kitty Seawall roundabout and ended at GWI’s Vlissengen Road Office.

GWI Board Member, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj, UNICEF Guyana and Suriname Deputy Representative, Mr. Irfan Akhtar and representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Hydrometeorological Service also showed their support to the event.

In addressing participants, Minister Rodrigues urged everyone to use the country’s water resources wisely.

She noted that while many may take access to water for granted, water is fast becoming one of the scarcest resources in the world

The Minister further stated that over 2 billion people worldwide do not have access to safe water.

As such, Minister Rodrigues said, “we have to start changing the way we think about water and the way we think about the management of water”, noting that in Guyana, the government is providing the necessary funds to ensure that all Guyanese have access to water, including vulnerable populations and those in the hinterland and riverine communities as the government is on track to ensure all Guyanese have access to water, but moreso, emphasis on treated water.

By 2025, Minister Rodrigues said the government aims to ensure that 90% of the population has access to treated water.

Several prizes were also awarded to participants, as part of the activity.