THE deadline for completion of the Hope Canal project is a mere 27 days away, December 31, and while work on three of four components of the project is progressing well, concerns remain over the completion of the outfall sluice.The contractor doing work on the eight-gate sluice at the canal’s Atlantic end met with Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy on Monday in a meeting expected to address construction challenges hindering progress on the outfall sluice. The contractor was expected to present the minister with a revised work plan, even as the minister himself had suggested the use of sub-contractors to ensure that the December 31 deadline for construction is met. Regrettably, the minister was unavailable to comment on the outcome of that meeting.

The last update on work on the other three components of the project indicated that the more than 10-kilometre channel from the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) is 90 per cent complete; the bridge across the public road is 80 per cent complete; and the conservancy head regulator is 75 per cent complete.

The contractor’s ability to complete the outfall sluice came under scrutiny since the last update two weeks ago, when work was only 50 per cent complete. Indications were that the US$15M Hope Canal project, expected to alleviate flooding in the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary (MMA) areas during rainy periods, would be operational as this year’s rainy season sets in.

Over the years, residents in the MMA area have lost crops and cattle to flooding experienced during the rainy period. In the past, when the Maduni Sluice had to be opened to drain the East Demerara Water Conservancy, residents in the MMA area had to battle a rise in the Mahaica Creek, making completion of the Hope Canal something that is greatly desired.

In a prior interview with this publication, Dr Ramsammy had made clear that he would not tolerate work extending over the project’s completion deadline.

Construction on the project began in February 2011 with an estimated 18 months for completion, and the deadline for the project was initially set for June of this year, but was subsequently extended to the end of August, and then once again extended to December 31.
Written By Vanessa Narine