GWI to receive major infrastructure facelift in coming months – CEO

…new Georgetown corporate office to ease congestion

As the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) continues to ensure all Guyanese have access to potable water, the organization in the coming months will see several new buildings being constructed, which will significantly bolster its capabilities.
The improvement of the organization’s infrastructure was revealed by GWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaik Baksh on Thursday, during its 23rd annual awards ceremony at the Royal International Hotel, Georgetown.

As the organization pushes to ensure all Guyanese, regardless of their geographic location, have access to treated potable water, Baksh highlighted that over the years GWI has managed to significantly build its workforce, with the organization now having more than 1,000 employees across various departments.
“We now have over 1,100 employees because of the expansion. We are probably going to [have] 1,200 employees. New plants, upgrading of facilities, and so on, have necessitated the employment of more persons of all categories,” he disclosed.
With the workforce projected to grow significantly, Baksh stressed the importance of workers being situated in a comfortable work environment. As such, he noted that the issue of overcrowding at the current head office in Georgetown will soon be an issue of the past.
“We are placing special emphasis on the environment and the building; the space which you occupy, making your lives comfortable in the work situation. And this year – shortly I would say – another three, four months – we will have more space here in Georgetown in particular, whereby we have a new corporate headquarters, which will free up the Shelter Belt location, to provide more space. It’s cramped now, I know. I recognize that; we recognize that so that you can have more space to ensure your increased productivity. Because if you’re cramped, you may not be able to produce as you would want to,” he remarked.
The GWI is establishing a new headquarters edifice as part of a larger complex for the Ministry of Housing and Water. This complex will be located in Houston, East Bank Demerara, along the Mandela to Eccles Highway. The new GWI headquarters will be a four-story building, with a cost of $562 million.
Moreover, the CEO also hinted at the construction of a new GWI office that will service one of the busiest corridors in Guyana: located at Lusignan, the new facility will provide GWI workers working on the coast with a more modern office space.
“Additionally, we intend to look at putting up a new building. We’re renting a building for East Coast of Demerara. We already have all the plans, and we want to go to Tender shortly to put a new building for the East Coast; that is at Lusignan, and work should start, I would say, within a matter of a few months on that new building.”
Apart from the construction of these new buildings, the CEO revealed that the organization will also be upgrading and rehabilitating its facilities across the country.
“And we have rehabilitated a lot of our existing buildings, given more space, air conditioning, better furniture, computers and all of these things, and we will continue doing that. We’ll intensify that in year 2025, I assure you of that.”
With improved infrastructure and working conditions for workers, GWI aims to provide Guyanese citizens with excellent service daily.
The 2025 budget for GWI is $24 billion, a significant increase from the previous year. This budget is allocated to address critical areas like infrastructure improvements, operations, and expanding water service access to previously unserved communities. The increased allocation aims to enhance water infrastructure, improve water quality, and expand access to clean water for all residents.