–as National Assembly passes new river, sea defence legislation

RISING sea levels, coastal vulnerabilities and severe flooding are all threats to the livelihood of Guyanese, but cognisant of this, the National Assembly on Friday passed a historic legislation to intensify efforts at safeguarding and maintaining critical sea and river defences.

Presenting the Bill during the 82nd Sitting of the National Assembly, Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill opened the debate by reminding the House about Guyana’s vulnerability to climate change, highlighting the absolute necessity of effective governance and administration to ensure integrated and sustainable flood management.

The Bill, the Sea and River Defence Bill, which was passed without any changes, will see several key adjustments, including a system for flood management, and enhanced sea and river defence management, which will see the government and the local Sea and River Defence Board having more authority.

Additionally, the Bill contains a change in the definition of sea and river defences to include natural defences like mangroves.

The minister further revealed that the legislation will see an increase in penalties for offences that impact sea and river defence structures.

“The maximum penalty imposed for penalties is $30,000 and imprisonment for a period of six months, in this sea and river defence bill that is before the House, penalties are significantly increased for offences that affect adversely on flood protection system,” Minister Edghill said.

The maximum general penalty for corporate bodies is now $10 million, and the maximum general penalties for persons is now $1 million.

Additionally, a liability clause has been established. Following the minister’s presentation, A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Amanza Walton-Desir said that while the Opposition supports the amendments to the law, there are a few areas that need to be tightened.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha blazed the Opposition for its delay tactics regarding development policies.

“It seems when we try to bring development to this country and we try to put it into legislation, the APNU+AFC opposition always wants to delay it and take it into a special select committee,” Mustapha said.

He further argued that the legislation addresses the importance of establishing provision for the construction and maintenance of sea and river defences, including natural defences.
“We here in Guyana are living on the lower coastal plain below sea level; we have to ensure that we protect our sea and river defences,” he added.

The new legislation, he said, will replace outdated provisions in the existing law which is no longer effective or relevant in the current text of climate change.

“By the end of the century, we will see the see level rising, and we will see the temperature increase by four degrees Celsius; we have to be prepared to counter that. And that is what we are doing by bringing legislation to this Assembly,” Mustapha said.

Once enacted, the Bill will also see threats to the agriculture sector being reduced significantly.