Works underway to back-up D&I capacity
-need for greater collaboration highlighted

Georgetown, GINA, December 17, 2007.

Government’s investment to enhance effectiveness of the drainage and irrigation system is continuing with more emphasis on vulnerable areas such as low-lying villages along the East Coast Demerara, Region Four.
            At present, works are underway to improve drainage in communities such as Lusignan, Good Hope, Foulis, Paradise and Enmore, which are often affected by heavy rainfall. The works, which are aimed at ensuring quick withdrawal of excess water, were highlighted today during a visit by Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud accompanied by Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth.
Minister Persaud pointed out that focus is being placed on ensuring that systems are in place to take off excess water as quickly as possible since it is difficult to prevent taking into consideration the system’s original capacity.
Residents in low-lying areas are being advised to take necessary precautions since the Hydrometeorological Office has forecast a continuing pattern of intense rainfall until February since the moderate La Nina is present across the Tropical Pacific.
At Lusignan, an additional pump is being installed to boost drainage capacity in the area and is expected to begin operating by tomorrow while the fixed pump previously installed at the location is operable.
Clearing of channels leading to the Enmore sluice is also ongoing with two excavators assigned earlier to carry out work while an additional mobile pump was installed several days ago. Overall, there are four pumps working at the outlet to relieve the Good Hope/Foulis/Paradise area.
While on the visit, it was observed that the Good Hope Housing Scheme is still being affected by accumulated water and arrangements were made immediately to have a private pump deployed to the area to assist with drainage. The works being done at the Enmore sluice is intended to address drainage in the scheme and other back areas which are very low and usually prone to water accumulation during heavy rainfall periods.
Government has spent close to $700M to prepare for the current season, works which started immediately after the May/June rains while more is being done. At present, approximately $50M is being spent to clear the Hope and Greenfield outfall channels since these are affected by rapid siltation.
This is one of the problems faced with sluices, Minister Persaud explained, thus Government’s massive investment to boost pumping capacity. At present, there are 42 pumps including those operated by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) installed at strategic locations along the East Coast Demerara while an additional two are being sourced from overseas.
Most of the pumps were installed following the disastrous 2005 flooding to help enhance capacity of the D&I network. This is important taking into account the system’s capacity which caters for drainage of 1/1.2 inches of rainfall in 24 hours as compared to 3/4 inches of rainfall being experienced during short heavy downpours.
Additionally, focus is being placed on re-opening of sluices, kokers and other D&I structures that were decommissioned more than two decades ago.
Residents, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), Regional Administrations and other stakeholders are being urged to ensure greater collaboration so that the D&I system can effectively deal with the rainy season. Residents are being called upon to desist from harmful activities such as dumping garbage into the D&UI system.
This was raised by residents of Good Hope, who pointed out that such activities by their neighbours contribute to flooding.
Government’s spend in excess of $1B annually to ensure that the D&I system is effective while other long-term activities are being pursued.

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