Anna Catherina Day and Night Care Centre opens  

The Day, Night Care and Early Childhood Development Centre at Anna Catherina, Region Three, officially opened its doors on Monday, delivering on a commitment to expand access to safe and reliable childcare for working families.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, confirmed the centre is fully functional, noting that months of preparation were ongoing prior to accommodating children.

“That centre is open and functioning. We have spent the last few months training, recruiting and registering children,” the minister said during the 2026 National Budget debate in the National Assembly on Monday.

The facility is managed by the Child Protection Agency under the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

The multi-purpose facility was commissioned in August 2025 at a cost of $93.8 million and is designed to support families while creating employment opportunities within the region. It accommodates children from infancy up to 12 years old and offers access to early screening programmes for eye, hearing, and other developmental conditions.

The ‘day and night’ care programme was conceptualised by Minister Persaud to encourage and assist in the establishment of childcare facilities, particularly for working women and low-income families who require flexible care options.

The Anna Catherina centre is the first of three such facilities to be established across the country.

In this year’s national budget, a record $78.3 billion allocation for social services was allocated to continue supporting children, women, and senior citizens.

Plans include completing the day and night care centre at Providence, East Bank Demerara and beginning construction of four additional centres across Regions Two, Five, Six, and Ten.