Five kilometres of sea defence constructed in Regions Two and Three with funding from the European Commission (EC) were officially handed over to the Ministry of Public Works yesterday with preventative maintenance being stressed.
The ceremony was held at construction firm, BK International’s Sea Defences Project Site at Leonora, West Coast Demerara. BK and Gelfi were the contractors under the 14 million euros 8th European Development Fund (EDF). Under the programme, work was done at Taymouth Manor to Alliance in Region Two and Tuschen, De Kendren to Meten-Meer-Zorg and Hague to Cornelia Ida in Region Three.
In accepting the completed projects, Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn said that sometimes enough attention is not paid to the condition of sea defences adding too that this is the case with roads and the Demerara Harbour Bridge. He said that there is a need for forward planning and further declared that there is also a need to remove the “element of panic that characterize our operations”. He explained that in many projects the term “emergency works” was included and asserted that he wants this knocked out.
He stressed the issue of maintenance noting that this would reduce cost, among others. “We have to be able to master issues of preventative maintenance,” he declared.
Meantime, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Guyana, Ambassador Geert Heikens said the projects guarantee an enhanced security of the coastal zone against the dangers of sea incursions and flooring.
He asserted that this would reduce damage to lives, stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty. Heikens pointed out that the EC has been supporting the sea defences for more than two decades and said that until now the main focus was to support the Guyana Government in the effort to reconstruct sea defences identified as being in a critical condition.
However, he said, the next support programme the Ninth EDF Sea Defences project, which will amount to nearly 18 million euros will focus more on preventative maintenance works with a smaller component of reconstruction. He said that the 9th EDF also provides for the funding of institutional capacity building components including the expansion of the already established Shore Zone Management System. The ambassador said that the preservation of existing mangroves and the exploration of possibilities to bring back mangroves where they once formed the natural defence against the sea are additional elements under this programme.
Also making brief remarks at the ceremony was Vice-Chairman of Region Three, Man Persaud, who, in giving thanks for the completed projects said that there were some concerns with regard to the work at Hague. He also raised the issue of mangroves asserting that they were being lost rapidly and ways and means of protecting them should be found. He declared that this would go a long way in reducing expenses.
The contracts for the projects were signed three years ago in September 2005 and the Eight EDF closes on December 15.
