Long term planning for effective drainage undertaken by the Government and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority has played a significant role in the reduction of floods over the past few years, following the devastating floods of 2005.. One major initiative being undertaken by Government to minimize flooding due to climate change and its deleterious impacts and implications to farming communities and households is the projected Hope Canal, which was recently commissioned by his Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo.  This initiative is expected to reduce or optimistically eradicate the yearly flooding endured by the residents of Mahaica Mahaicony and Abary communities.
The US$15M project would provide some comfort to the residents when there is heavy rainfall and treats of over topping of the conservancy, said the President.
President Jagdeo said that the Canal will help to bring about some amount of stability and accumulation of wealth in that area.
He noted that the project is a feasible one and stated that this is one of the largest projects which will ever be funded directly from the budget.
The President explained that Guyana will be faced with a lot of challenges in the future due to climate change and if Guyana is not equipped to manage a large water intake in a shorter period of time then Guyana will no longer be recognized as an agricultural producing country.
President Jagdeo stated that the Hope Canal is necessary if the Government is to plan ahead for adaptation and mitigation of climate change in Guyana.
A number rehabilitation projects were conducted nationwide to improve the drainage system in Guyana some of these projects are:
Rehabilitated Lama sluice and construction of revetment.
•    Rehabilitation of drains and outfall channels;
•    Embankment and scour protection works;
•    Construction and/or rehabilitation of sluices; Importantly, the Lama sluices were rehabilitated to increase the drainage capacity of the EDWC.
•    Constructed and rehabilitated culverts, kokers, and revetments;
•    Installation/rehabilitation of drainage pumps and pump stations: Machinery and Equipment:  14 super long- reach excavators acquired and one new 250 ton dredging pontoon.
D&I PROJECTS
Agriculture Support Services Project (ASSP)
The primary objective of this project is to raise rural incomes by increasing the efficiency of agricultural production in the coastal plain of Guyana. This requires improving competitiveness in the sector through the timely availability of irrigation and improved drainage.
Civil works contracts were signed and works are on-going in several areas for the rehabilitation of control structures and access roads.
Conservancy Adaptation Project
This project is aimed at aiding Guyana to adapt to climate change and focuses on a key facility, the East Demerara Water Conservancy. The US$3.8M World Bank Conservancy Adaptation Project will finance the development of the technical foundation for a master plan of future interventions within the EDWC and lowland drainage systems, as well as specific upgrading works and operational improvements aimed at enhancing the flood control capacity of the EDWC.
•    These works are expected to improve the ability of the government to manage water levels behind the EDWC during heavy rainfall by improving internal flows in the EDWC
•    Additional upgrading of water control structures have been undertaken including the restoring of the Kofi outlet and in a limited way the re-opening of the Cunia outlet into the Demerara River.
•    ASDU awarded contracts for the supply of a hydraulic long-reach excavator at a cost of over $37,325,000, which was used in the execution of drainage works at the EDWC.
•    Another contract was signed involving the fabrication of a punt and a pontoon for the EDWC at a cost of over $34,684,399.
•    Rehabilitation of Lama Sluices and construction of revetment: Project Cost: $49,899,400.
•    Pre-investment studies for EDWC. The World Bank submitted the TOR’s and NDIA review and provided critical comments. EOI completed and launched internationally.
•    Rehabilitation of Cunia Canal, sluice and the construction of a new bridge
Construction of East Demerara Water Conservancy Northern Relief Channel at Hope /Douchfour, East Coast Demerara, Region 4
•    Design of relief channel, intake sluice, main road access bridge and discharge sluice.
•    Construction works will commence shortly.
PLANS FOR 2010/2011
Drainage & Irrigation -Abary Conservancy and Control Structures
Primary Drainage and irrigation
1.    Constructed drainage channel from Hyde Park to Plantation Park, Right Bank Mahaicony River
2.    Rehabilitation of Burma Main Drain
3.    Extension of the Main Irrigation Canal in Abary/Berbice Area
4.    Rehabilitation of Herstelling Drain, Left Bank, Berbice River
5.    Rehabilitation of Façade Drain:  Ithaca to Stanvastigheid, Left Bank Berbice River
Roads and Accesses
1.    All Weather Roads –  Sealed breaches along road using bauxite capping – 35 miles
2.    Fair Weather Accesses – Harrowed, graded and shaped earthen dams twice during the year for farmers to gain access to their fields to attend to their crops  – 1140 miles
Bridges
•    Constructed two (2) heavy duty timber bridges to link access dams
•    Constructed structures at the eastern embankment of main Canal in the vicinity of Von Better, Berbice River
•    Rehabilitated thirty (30) miles of secondary drain and canals.
•    Hydrographic Surveys
•    Construction of Vertical Controls and engineering surveys
•    Converted land from statehold to freehold
•    Cadastral Surveys
Ongoing and Completed Projects
Construction and rehabilitation of drainage, sluices, canals, culverts, access bridges, dams, rivetments, embankments, and other water control structures, as well as installation of pumps are being strategically conducted across the country, simultaneous to adjunctive Civil Works.
MMA has also done extensive work in Region 5 for agricultural development during the past three years, with Capital works alone amounting to over $550 million dollars, among other major investments in infrastructural works.
Caterpillar excavators, pontoons and other equipment were either purchased or refurbished to facilitate D&I and infrastructural works nationwide.