– Minister Persaud
MINISTER of Agriculture Mr. Robert Persaud said on Tuesday, that an assessment of the works on the East Coast Demerara US$15M Hope Canal is expected at the end of January. He told a year end media briefing that the 18 months project will create another outlet for the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) to assist in further minimising floods in the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary (MMA) area.
Persaud said the undertaking is also to aid Guyana’s long term adaptation to the challenges of climate change and better prepared, each season to respond to heavy rainfall.   
However, he acknowledged that the drainage and irrigation (D&I) systems are not yet where they, ideally, should be and the Hope Canal is a step towards that goal.
Persaud said, with its topography, this country cannot, altogether, prevent flooding, but its impacts can be minimised.
In that context, he said the NDIA has been working to support the country’s development, by improving and maintaining the D&I network.
At that forum, it was reported that 810 miles of drains and channels were rehabilitated and maintained in:
* Region Two at Supenaam, Plantation Andrews, Better Hope and Richmond water course;

* Region Three, at Chanteley, Potosi, Naamryck/Salem, Canal Numbers One and Two, Windsor Forest, Vreed-en-Hoop/La Jalousie, Den Amstel/ Fellowship, Vergenoegen/Naamryck, Leguan and Wakenaam; 

* Region Four at Plaisance, Triumph, Stratsphey, Enmore, Buxton and Friendship, Golden Grove/Victoria, Bare Root,  Mon Repos, Triumph Pump Reservoir, Good Hope/Annandale faзade drain, Hope Coconut Estate, Unity, Cane Grove, Craig, Sarah Johanna, Grove and Alliance Road, Golden Grove, Ann’s Grove, Enterprise, Friendship, Craig, Garden of Eden, Mocha and Sophia; 
* Region Five, in a section of the Abary Faзade drain-Profit/Foulis, Hyde Park to Park right bank, Mahaicony River, a section of Bellamy Drain-Farm to Cottage and Mahaicony;

* Region Six, at Black Bush Polder, Crabwood Creek, Seawell/Number 19, Number 47, Bush Lot and Number 66, Manchester and Whim, as well in

* Region 10, at Kara Kara Creek Mouth, Poker Street, Christianburg, Green Valley, Rockstone, Mackenzie Industrial Area, Blueberry Hill, Silver City, West Watooka, Retrieve and One Mile in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice).

MAJOR WORKS
In addition, major works were done across the regions, with outfall channels excavated, embankment empoldering and scour protection, revetment, culverts, kokers, installation of tubes and structures were both constructed and rehabilitated, like drainage pumps and sluices.
New sluices were constructed at De Willem and Waterloo in Region Three; Retrieve and Cottage, Mahaicony in Region Five and at First, Second, Third and Fourth Canals, Moleson Creek and Alness in Region Six.
For those jobs, 14 long reach hydraulic excavators, two pontoons and nine motorcycles were procured and, under the Community Drainage and Irrigation Project (CDIP), 2,862 workers are now employed.
The CDIP contributed to improved drainage in 54 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and four Town Councils.
Approximately 190 miles of canals were cleared and maintained by the CDIP in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten. 
Persaud also disclosed that, with the establishment of the semi-autonomous NDIA, growth has been recorded in 2010 and engineers are now stationed in all vulnerable regions countrywide.