The Little Diamond Day/Night Care and Early Childhood Development Centre was officially commissioned on Wednesday, providing childcare services for families in Little Diamond and surrounding communities on the East Bank of Demerara.
The facility, procured through the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), has the capacity to accommodate up to 50 children and will provide care during both daytime and nighttime hours.
The BNTF Guyana said the investment provides a purpose-built facility equipped with furnished learning spaces, a dedicated play area and provisions to support accessibility and inclusion for children and adults of all abilities.
BNTF Project Manager Karen Roopchand said the project was developed in response to an identified need within the community.
“The true value of this investment will be measured by the children and families it serves,” Roopchand said.
She highlighted the importance of the day-and-night care model, noting that many parents work shifts, nights or extended hours and require access to dependable childcare.
Human Services and Social Security Ministry, Dr Vindhya Persaud, who officially commissioned the facility, said the centre will particularly benefit working and single parents.
According to the Ministry, the facility is expected to benefit families living within the Little Diamond Young Professional Housing Scheme as well as neighbouring communities.
Persaud said the availability of trained caregivers would provide parents with greater peace of mind while they work.
The Minister also announced that night-care services at the centre will commence on October 1.
The BNTF described the project as a $123.7 million investment delivered through the Government of Guyana and the Caribbean Development Bank’s BNTF programme.
However, while BNTF described the project as a $123.7 million investment, the Human Services and Social Security Ministry in its announcement valued the facility at $170 million.
The centre is intended to expand access to early childhood care while supporting parents who have employment commitments during both regular and non-traditional working hours.
In August 2025, the Anna Catherina Day/Night Care and Early Childhood Development Centre was opened in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). That was Guyana’s first-ever 24-hour early childhood development facility.
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