By Josiah Williams
Guyana is set to significantly enhance its drainage and irrigation capacity while fortifying resilience against climate change with a substantial investment of $115 billion.
General Secretary of the ruling party and Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, unveiled the ambitious plan, stating that the government will allocate the funds over its tenure to bolster drainage and irrigation systems across the country.
Dr. Jagdeo revealed that 37 pumps will be installed at 19 pump stations nationwide, increasing pumping capacity by over 5000 cubic square feet and benefiting more than 140 thousand Guyanese.
Additionally, the government plans to procure 40 mobile pumps to swiftly address flooding in various regions.
Furthermore, with funding of $47 million from a World Bank program, the government aims to rehabilitate and upgrade 63 sluices and kokers countrywide.
A significant portion of the funds, amounting to $26 billion, will be allocated to constructing “Hope-like” canals in Regions 6, 5, and 3, utilizing proceeds from the sale of carbon credits for climate adaptation.
Dr. Jagdeo highlighted the extensive benefits of these initiatives, with improved drainage expected to cover 188,000 acres in Region 6, 214,000 acres in Region 5, and 28,000 acres in Region 3.
Moreover, the government is actively exploring measures to address climate change effects in hinterland regions and develop strategies for water storage to mitigate droughts and floods.
In reflecting on the scale of investment, Dr. Jagdeo emphasized the stark contrast with the previous administration, which allocated only $25 billion over its entire tenure for similar initiatives.
As Guyana endeavors to fortify its infrastructure and adapt to climate challenges, this substantial investment signals a robust commitment to national development and resilience-building efforts.