AS GUYANA moves into high alert in response to the projected heavy rains following the long dry spell occasioned by El Niño, a number of sluices have been constructed throughout the coastland to ensure the effective drainage of major crop-growing areas.
One such structure, costing in the vicinity of $153M, was commissioned yesterday at De Willem on the West Coast Demerara by Agriculture Minister, Mr. Robert Persaud, who said that like the commissioning of the four other sluices that were installed elsewhere on the coastland, yesterday’s  exercise was the culmination of a timely and worthwhile investment by the government since it would increase the capacity of water being discharged off the land.
Persaud said that while the government is in the process of embarking on a national drainage and Irrigation master-plan to increase the capacity to discharge water nationwide, at this point in time, the drainage capacity is just 1.5 inches of water over a 24-hour period. 
The Minister noted that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) would be the major beneficiary of the aforementioned investment since it has been a part of that company’s capital programme for over seven years.  He said the investment at reference is a direct investment in the sugar industry even though farmers and residents will benefit as well.
Persaud said the old DeWillem sluice was abandoned in the 1970s and was the most famous of them all since this is the sluice that was featured on many a front page and was oft criticized. He said however that given the current changes we’re seeing in the weather pattern, replacing it is a part of the government’s intervention plan to better the livelihoods of its people.   
Region Three (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands) Chairman, Mr. Julius Faerber,  noted that after the old koker went out of commission, the Region experienced a lot of drainage problems, especially from Uitvlugt to Zeelugt, a noted cash-crop area that was seriously affected by severe flooding whenever it rained heavily.
He said that with the commissioning of the new sluice, many villages will be back under cultivation, and that with effective drainage, a lot of people are going to go back to agriculture, resulting in much more farming being done now than over the past few years.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Mr. Lionel Wordsworth said that while a sluice at DeWillem was long overdue, its installation now would help bring agricultural development to the area which can only redound to the benefit of the economy.
He said the DeWillem sluice represents one of four sluices that were constructed on the coast over the past few months and will help to improve drainage for approximately 18,000 acres of land. He said it is important for us to improve and modernize integrated systems to deal with global warming.
General Manager of Uitvlugt Estate, Mr. Dinoo Ramadhan, expressed his gratitude for the undertaking, and stated that from GuySuCo’s position, one of the key elements in growing a successful sugarcane crop is drainage. He said GuySuCo and other cane farmers will benefit tremendously from this sluice that is being commissioned and will continue to play their part in  seeing that it is properly maintained.