Double-door sluices to aid advanced D&I in Region Two
-will help with climate change adaptation and mitigation

Georgetown, GINA, November 19, 2007.

Construction of two double-door sluices at Westbury and Golden Fleece, along the Essequibo Coast in Region Two, will significantly improve drainage and irrigation (D&I) and is part of further efforts to help Guyana deal with the effects of climate change.
            This is according to Technical Adviser to the Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Walter Willis who recently provided an update on the pace of work for the two structures.
            At Golden Fleece, approximately $120M is being spent to construct the double-door sluice that will provide improved D&I to 7, 000 acres of agricultural lands under rice and cash crops cultivation and cattle rearing in the Golden Fleece/Cullen area.
            Prior to construction, there was a single-door sluice, but with the advent of global warming that is expected to contribute to further sea level rise and increased rainfall, the need for a double-door structure has become more necessary, Willis explained.
            Construction started last October and is expected to be completed by the end of December. The contractor has already completed all foundation piling and was scheduled to commence casting over the weekend.
At present, action is being taken to ensure that rice farmers’ need for drainage and irrigation of their lands are met while the sluice is under construction. Two pumps were deployed by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Regional Administration to facilitate the process.
During a meeting with Regional Chairman Ali Baksh last week, Willis, who is also Chairman of the NDIA Board of Directors, emphasized the need for the region to remain vigilant and proactive in operating the water control structures while the sluice is being built and farmers are in need of water.           
In addition, the other double-door sluice at Westbury is almost completed and will provide more effective and efficient drainage and irrigation to farmers of the Westbury/Dartmouth area.
The structures at Westbury and Golden Fleece are being constructed under the Rice Competitiveness Project through which more than $700M is being invested in improved water management in Region Two, which is mainly agriculture-based.
Apart from the sluices’ construction, the Dawa pump station located in the Tapakuma irrigation system is being replaced to further support agricultural development in the region.
One of the old pumps being replaced, is being repaired and installed at Cozier scheme that is being re-developed after several years. An excavator was deployed by the Agriculture Ministry and is being used to carry out the necessary drainage and irrigation works in the scheme. These include re-establishing several miles of drainage network, excavation of an outfall channel leading into the Pomeroon River and construction of various structures.
Re-establishment of the scheme will result in the development of approximately 5, 000 acres of arable lands for expanded cultivation of primarily cash crops. This will create more economic opportunities and benefit hundreds of farming families residing in surrounding areas such as Charity, Somerset and Berks and New Road.
            The Regional Chairman recently highlighted improvements done in Region Two to improve drainage and irrigation and the importance of these works in helping to deal with the heavy rainfall period, which has affected the region several times.
            At present, more than 40 miles of drains have been excavated and embankments constructed in the upper and lower Pomeroon with two excavators that were made available by Government to strengthen farmlands’ defence against high tides and heavy rainfall.
At Charity, approximately $30M was spent to construct a major sluice that provides improved drainage to the Charity housing scheme and surrounding communities that have been affected by heavy rainfall over recent years.
Also under the Poor Rural Communities Support Services Project (PRCSSP), strengthening of D&I was done at Riverstown/Onderneeming, along the Essequibo Coast and in the Supenaam Creek. Although these are mainly to support advanced agriculture, it will provide better D&I for farmers and residents particularly during the rainy season.

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