As Guyana faces the effects of La Nina, the Ministry of Agriculture continues to be proactive in its efforts to ensure that drainage and irrigation structures remain functional
at optimal level. Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth, yesterday inspected
the sluice and the soon-to-be-commissioned pump station at Greenfield, East Coast Demerara.
Minister Persaud, in an invited comment, said that the pump station, together with the sluice, will now allow double drainage capacity and reduce flash flooding. It
is being constructed at a cost of approximately $156M.
“While we are working to construct and rehabilitate additional kokers and sluices, the same way we have to ensure that those that we already have are working at
optimal levels,” he said.
According to Minister Persaud, the pontoon and excavators to dredge the canal will be deployed to the area today after completing works in Linden, East and West Bank
Demerara, Essequibo Coast and Leguan.
Countrywide, the Ministry of Agriculture’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has been embarking on emergency drainage works inclusive of cleaning
and desilting of canals to ensure that flooding is reduced.
However, Minister Persaud pointed out that although significant work is being embarked upon, there will still be instances of flash flooding, notwithstanding the
investments.
To some extent, the Greenfield project has been hampered by the weather and the acquisition of land.
A section of the land currently housing the pump station was privately owned, and according to the Minister, this was one of the reasons for the delay in the project.
“Given those factors, we were hoping to have it completed for the rainy season, but we are still pushing the contractor as much as possible and the consultant who is
overlooking this project to ensure that we get value for our money,” he added.

Guyana is currently experiencing a La Nina weather condition, with rainfall expected to be 70 percent above normal, as such, interventions are intended to improve existing drainage structures to ensure that communities are not affected.
The administration has been fostering the expansion of agriculture in Guyana through the provision of improved drainage and irrigation structures, and given the many issues faced as it relates to drainage, several excavators were deployed and are currently working in the coastal regions of Guyana.
To date, five excavators have been deployed to Regions Two; 6 to Region Three; 13 to Region Four; 11 to Region Six and 4 draglines and 10 excavators to Region 5.
Five excavators and pontoons were also deployed at the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC).
Mobile drainage pumps were deployed to Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six, while the NDIA also facilitated two 250-ton pontoons, coupled with four long-reach
excavators, to dredge silted outfall channels along the coast and riverine area. (GINA)