–Dr. Jagdeo says

GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has said that efforts are being made to assist those persons affected by the persistent rains this traditionally rainy May-June season, which has led to flooding in some communities.

During a press conference at Freedom House on Thursday, he said: “Over the past week or so, we’ve had some unusual levels of rainfall, and this has caused untold hardships to many people across this country. I want to assure them that all efforts are being made to address these issues, to ensure that we can bring relief to those who were affected across our country.”

While addressing measures being rolled out in response to the situation, Dr. Jagdeo said that several Cabinet Ministers have been deployed to the affected areas.
Although preparations were made to prepare for the rainy season, he said, in some areas, particularly in the Rupununi, there has been “unusual capacity” when it comes to handling the situation.

Additionally, the Ministry of Public Works has activated emergency teams for the restoration of the Linden-Lethem corridor. Contractors and materials are en route to the affected area.
There was significant disruption along the Kurupukari–Lethem corridor at approximately 15:40hrs on Wednesday afternoon, when a truck traversing it attempted to cross an eroded section of the roadway within the Iwokrama Concession.

According to a press release, this section of the road subsequently collapsed due to sustained pressure from a storm surge caused by heavy rains.
It should be noted that the contractor responsible for the maintenance of the area, KP Thomas, was not on site. In the last 48 hours, Ministry of Public Works engineers have alerted all contractors to monitor areas where they have active worksites.

“Presently, this section has been completely washed away, rendering it impassable. This will affect all traffic traversing between Georgetown and Annai/Lethem. The Ministry wishes to reiterate that the affected area is currently inaccessible to all traffic, and all drivers and passengers travelling along this corridor should expect delays,” the release read.

Also, there is a warning advisory in effect for traffic crossing the Pirara Bridge via the Timber Bypass. The water level has risen significantly within the last 24 hours, covering the approach road and bridge. Light traffic is requested to exercise extreme caution if attempting to cross the bypass.

However, the ministry said that it does not recommend the crossing of any heavy equipment over the bypass at this time.
Emergency teams have been mobilised, and efforts are underway to assess and repair the damage.
Last month, Dr. Jagdeo said that the government will expend some $26 billion to construct massive canals across the country.

Dr. Jagdeo said that Hope-like canals will be built in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). In Region Three, it is expected that the drainage and irrigation structure will target some 28,000 acres of land; in Region Five, 214,000 acres, while in Region Six, 188,000 acres of land will see better water management.

The Hope Canal, which has Guyana’s largest sluice, aids in directing excess water towards the Atlantic Ocean. The massive drainage and irrigation infrastructure located in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) was commissioned back in 2014, and has eight doors that function as a drainage sluice.

The funding for the new projects, Dr. Jagdeo said, will come from the country’s sale of carbon credits to the American oil firm, Hess Corporation.
This, he highlighted, is in keeping with the country’s Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), as 85 per cent of the country’s carbon credits proceeds are intended for climate-adaptation projects.

Aside from this, Dr. Jagdeo also disclosed that $47 million will be expended on facilitating rehabilitation works at over 60 sluices across the country. Simultaneously, the government is also building out the capacity of pumping stations.