RESIDENTS of Goed Fortuin, on the West Bank of Demerara, on Saturday heard from President Dr. Irfaan Ali about the government’s plans for the creation of a new outfall in the district to enhance drainage in the area.

President Ali spoke about the infrastructure during a community meeting held at the Hugh Anderson Sports Complex in Goed Fortuin.
The outfall at reference is expected to be similar in structure to the Hope Canal, in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and would ensure that water flows rapidly out of the rain-affected communities on the West Bank.

During the 2011 floods, several villages on the coastland escaped being devastated by flood waters due to the Northern Relief Channel that was constructed at Hope/Dochfour on the East Coast Demerara.

Outside of Region Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara), similar outfalls are also in the works for Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). In 2021, the government began technical work to advance the creation of replicas of the Hope Canal.
The President’s meeting in Goed Fortuin was the first of a series of stops that he made in the Region on Saturday as he shared the government’s objective in creating positive change across the country.

Besides announcing that the area would be massively transformed through the implementation of enhanced infrastructure, job opportunities, and developmental projects, the President also listened to the concerns of the residents and made on-the-spot decisions to resolve them.