Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud yesterday met with a preparatory study mission from the Japanese Government to follow up on support for the critical East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) and its associated drainage and irrigation structures.
The Japanese team is headed by Goya Yoshiyuki, the Executive Technical Advisor to the Director General of the Rural Development Department, of JICA which is finalizing the project for implementation. Also joining the Minister at the meeting, which was held in the boardroom of the Agriculture Ministry, was Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth.
This partnership is part of a Joint Declaration on Enhanced Co-operation in Environment and Climate Change Issues between the two countries. The declaration was signed by President Bharrat Jagdeo and then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007. The value of the support by the Japanese Government is US$6.7 million.
Minister Persaud yesterday welcomed the team. He noted that the government had taken steps to address the EDWC but indicated that further support was appreciated. He also acknowledged the support of the Japanese in other areas.
He pointed out that some technical experts from Japan are working closely with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority to boost its capacity,
According to a release from the Ministry of Agriculture, upon the conclusion of the team’s two-week visit and final approval of the plan, Guyana stands to benefit from the procurement of equipment, earthen works with the EDWC and rehabilitation of critical drainage structures. This includes possible support for the construction of the Cunha Canal, even as the government proceeds with the northern relief channel at Hope/Dochfour to increase the discharge capacity of the EDWC.
Overtopping of the EDWC following heavy rainfall was seen as the premier reason for the 2005 Great Flood. Since then, forced release of water from the EDWC has flooded the Mahaica area several times.
It is all well and good for us bloggers from abroad to constantly carp on about ineffective systems in Guyana however whilst I acknowledge things are being done; I feel a broad-based-integrated 10 year plans/targetting is essential to move the ‘mountains’ necessary in order to shore up coastal defences.
Whilst it is good to see Japan’s Director General of the Rural Development Department present and willing on Guyanese soil, one wonders whether the US$6.7 million Japan is giving will not be used for the procurement of Japanese equipment.
The East Demerara Water Conservancy drainage and irrigation work must be part of a broad-based-integrated 10 year plan which should be regularly overhauled.
…..Satish ,, i feel compelled to respond to ur assertion abt bloggers ! i’m not sure that’s who /what i do here by posting a comment , on things i “know” abt ! either to do ,, or to get done better than is now delivered by many in GUYANA !
care to deconstruct ” broad-based-integrated 10 year plans” ??
This current project concerns the East Demerara Water Conservancy, michael.
What we need to hear about from the government in terms of “broad-based-integrated 10 year plans”…. is that flood-prevention should not be done piecemeal and should span all of Guyana’s habitable coastline (including planning new towns on higher ground up-river).
Plans must cross party considerations so that if a new party is in power, it would not be able to unravel such important works.
Whilst any 10year plan may be ‘tinkered’ with during its course; it should have major overhauls and new target-setting at the end of the tenth year and so the flood defences would be enhanced over time without stop-start-management-by-crisis motivations.
Perhaps the government already does this however we have not been told by SN that this kind of continuity is currently practised.
I have trained Japanese engineers in the use of state-of-the-art equipment used in drainage and irrigation and water resources projects. I provided similar trainers for Chinese engineers.
Minister Persaud and Lionel Wordsworth do you recall when you contacted me when I offered to help with your drainage an irrigation problems?
Why did you abruptly discontinue all email contact with me? Be informed that what ever the Japanese or Chinese can do I can do better.
I have trained Japanese engineers in the use of state-of-the-art equipment used in drainage and irrigation and water resources projects. I provided similar trainers for Chinese engineers.
Minister Persaud and Lionel Wordsworth do you recall when you contacted me when I offered to help with your drainage an irrigation problems?
Why did you abruptly discontinue all email contact with me? Be informed that what ever the Japanese or Chinese can do I can do better.