The government, with the assistance of international agencies, has spent approximately $5 billion to repair damaged infrastructure and improve drainage and irrigation (D&I) capabilities countrywide since the disastrous flood of December 2004/January2005.

These statistics were made public when Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud held a press briefing to assess developments since that time, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said. Persaud said focus was placed on the most vulnerable areas such the East Coast Demerara (ECD), the Pomeroon River, and the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary (MMA) creeks.

During late 2004 and throughout January 2005, Guyana experienced the highest volume and intensity of rainfall in its history with a record of 157 inches during a two-week period.

This resulted in increased water accumulation mostly on the coastland affecting thousands of residents for a month. “The country’s drainage system is designed to take off 1.5 inches of rainfall within 24 hours and rainfall above this capacity is likely to result in accumulation,” GINA said.

What compounded the problem is the fact that drainage depends on outflow during low tides.

Persaud said since then there has been significant improvement in the operation of the national D&I system. He said the sum was spent to reactivate sluices, kokers and other drainage structures and to install more drainage pumps along the coastland. To lessen the possibility of flooding, 12 mobile pumps have been installed along the ECD while more than $790 million in equipment was purchased to improve D&I in the MMA areas.

The installation of additional pumps has enabled the D&I system to discharge excess water at a faster rate during a 24-hour period. The government also bought 15 excavators to carry out drainage works countrywide and two long-boom excavators, at a cost of $60 million, to widen and strengthen the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) dam. This is part of the work programme for the EDWC, which is being undertaken while plans are in train to increase the fleet of equipment being used to strengthen the dam.

Monitoring of the D&I system is also ongoing to ensure sluices, kokers and pumps are functioning according to schedule. Persaud said the system is coping well having adequately dealt with some 60 inches of rainfall during the current rainy season. The only reports of flooding, GINA said, came from some accumulation aback of Hope in Region Four. The Guyana Sugar Corporation will relocate one of its pumps to Hope to assist in drainage. Two weeks ago, government spent more than $1 million to desilt the Hope outfall channel.

Persaud said last year approximately $1.2 billion were spent on D&I improvements in the various regions and, providing that the Ministry of Finance gives the necessary approval, another $1.2 billion is likely to be spent this year.

Meanwhile, the Hydrometerological Department predicted that rainfall would continue throughout the weekend though with less intensity. Engineers from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority are conducting assessments of the situation in various areas while citizens are urged to be vigilant.