Guyana Citizens’ Initiative (GCI) came into being in response to the extensive floods of 2005. An ad hoc Steering Committee of some twelve persons provided overall direction for a small volunteer staff of the GCI. The Initiative, a network of individuals and organizations and now a legally registered organization originally aimed:

Water related threats to the physical. Social and political survival of Guyanese society constitutes a major challenge to the development of a dignified and inclusive future for all Guyanese citizens. All aspects of Guyanese life have been determined by water ever since the coastal areas were empoldered out of the Atlantic in the era of slavery. Remarkably, the precariousness of coastal existence attracted little attention until the floods of 2005 and 2006.  However, significant changes in weather patterns, the inability to maintain, de-silt and service drainage systems and a decaying conservancy dam behind the most heavily populated areas of the coast have combined in a dramatic manner to focus attention on the issue of coastal survival. Poverty eradication strategies have to be fundamentally re-calibrated in light of changing meteorological patterns which have exposed the vulnerability of 90% of the population to flooding and in 2006 destroyed all forms of crop, cattle and vegetable farming.

GCI intends to sustain our networks with communities and plans to further develop the relationship by creating a sustainable impact on poverty using water and sanitation as the major conduit. A particular focus will be to re-vitalise civil society involvement with the Poverty Reduction Strategy Programme. Our overall aim is to contribute to poverty alleviation within the framework of the Millennium Goals relating to Water and Sanitation (Goals #1, #7 and #8).