GUYANA and the Export-Import Bank of India have inked an agreement for the acquisition of high-capacity, fixed and mobile drainage and irrigation pumps. As such, communities in Regions Two,Three,Four,Five and Six, can expect less flooding. This relief to the communities has been made possible through the loan agreement signed Wednesday in Washington, D.C. According to a release from the Ministry of Finance, residents in Hampton Court and Devonshire Castle in Region Two, Den Amstel in Region Three, Hope and Nooten Zuil in Region Four, Mora Point in Region Five and Rose Hall in Region Six, will soon benefit from the placement of eight fixed pumps within their communities, which will help to restrict flooding in their communities.
Meanwhile, five mobile pumps will provide drainage services to Georgetown and its environs,including La Penitence South, Cummings Canal, Church Street, Sussex Street and South Ruimveldt.
According to the release, these mobile drainage pumps will be assigned to various locations close to existing sluices in the city and its surrounding areas and will also be deployed to other areas to alleviate flooding, whenever necessary.
The Dollar Credit Line Agreement valued at US$4M will allow Guyana to benefit from the procurement and installation of eight fixed high-capacity and mobile drainage and irrigation pumps, associated spares and institutional strengthening related to the use and maintenance of the equipment.
More importantly, the acquisition of these pumps is expected to reduce the risks of flooding in low-lying areas and will bring relief to residents and farmers, whose economic activities are usually disrupted by flooding caused by intensive rainfall and overtopping of the sea.
It will provide flood relief to approximately 25,000 acres of agricultural and residential lands.
Signing on behalf of Guyana was Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, while Mr Sailesh Prasad, Resident Representative, signed on behalf of the Export-Import Bank of India.
The signing of this agreement is yet another gesture of the support from the Government and the people of India to assist the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to achieve its socio-economic development goals.