THE coastland of Guyana which stretches for over 400 Km is home to well over half of the population. The coastal area between the Demerara and Mahaicony Rivers, part of Region 4 is estimated to be home to over 200,000 persons. Additionally it is in this area that the seat of Government and the headquarters of most of the businesses including the Capitol City are housed. Rice, sugar and numerous agricultural crops are produced and exported from this area. It’s importance to every Guyanese was made known during the 2005/2006 floods. 

The East Demerara Water Conservancy is one of the irrigation systems that was established by the Dutch and serves to regulate the supply of water to the agriculture land and provides potable water for the city dwellers. It is important to maintain a correct balance of water in this conservancy which if it drops too low may result in the loss of crops for farmers in Demerara and drought in the capital city. If it rises too high the integrity of the dam may be threatened. It could cause breaches in the dam which would result in flooding to farmlands and villages as has happened in the past.
Persons who have had the opportunity to visit the conservancy would have noticed that the vast expanse of water is held back by a dam that could if not properly managed erode sending millions of gallons of water on the coast creating destruction to homes and farms ending our existence on the coast as we know it.
It is for these reasons stated above that there is need for proper management of the drainage structures which service this conservancy. Any person knowing these facts and calling the investment in the Hope Canal an “extravagance” and viewing it as “not necessary” is either playing politics with the livelihood of thousands of Guyanese or engaging in “intellectual prostitution” as they seek to sell their intelligence for narrow selfish (or in this case political) gains.
Dr. Roopnaraine is a respected intellectual who has enhanced the intellectual capacity of the Opposition by bringing sound reasoning to the political discussion. His recent utterances seem to reflect a desperate politician in election mode rather than the intellectual he is known to be.
A discussion with the residents and farmers of the Mahaica/Mahaicony who are affected whenever the conservancy reaches to a level which threatens the dam and water has to be let out quickly will testify to the usefulness of the Hope Canal.
That the conservancy was once drained by 10 different outlets five of which are inoperable as a result of decisions taken by the previous government which saw it fit to deactivate a number of the outlets. That there is more land under cultivation along the coast and housing areas are established in areas which was once under agricultural cultivation hence the need for better irrigation management and that the mitigating situations resulting from the effects of climate change warranted this intervention seems to elude the good doctor’s mind.
The arrogance of the intellectuals who fail to understand the plight of the working class which is one of the biggest hindrances to Guyana’s development over the years seems to be surfacing again. The opposition to the Hydro power project, the construction of the specialty hospital the expansion of the Timehri Airport and many other projects designed to bring relief and improve the quality of life for ordinary Guyanese is attacked and as seen in the last three years, starved for funds.
Even with election in the air and parties trying to garner support from all quarters. The leaders should be mindful what is said in their attempt to mobilise support. The Hope Canal is not only necessary it is essential, a project that has taken too long to realise.
Dr. Roopnaraine seems to have conveniently forgotten the devastating effects of the 2005 Great Flood-our worst natural disaster.
He also seems to have forgotten that the Hope Canal was born out of a recommendation of a Dutch engineer who came here under the auspices of the UN during the Great Flood.
But Dr. Roopnaraine can be assured that the electorate will not forget his unbelievable utterance on the Hope Canal, especially those farmers who were devastated by the Great Flood.