Ground breaking ceremony launches 9th European Development Fund

Nov 24, 2009 News

…reconstruction, rehabilitation and maintenance of sea defences continues

Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn and Ambassador Geert Heikens breaking ground at Clonbrook.

Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, and European Union Ambassador, Geert Heikens, yesterday ‘broke ground’ at the seawalls of Clonbrook, East Coast Demerara, to commemorate the launching of civil works programmes within the Ninth European Development Fund.
The ground breaking ceremony came as part of the inaugural ceremony for the 9th EDF Sea Defence Programme, which is being financed by the European Union, and will include the reconstruction of 1.6km and rehabilitation/maintenance of 18km sea defences.
The support for the sea defense was formalised through two financing agreements. €900,000 was the first financing agreement, which was signed in March 2007. The second financing agreement was signed on October 17 of 2007, and amounted to €17,018,000.
The second signing is to initiate the implementation of works, supply and other service contracts identified under the EDF Sea Defences Feasibility Study.
The 23-month project was expected to commence yesterday, and will reach from Clonbrooke to Springlands.
The contract for the infrastructural works on the 1.5km reconstruction and 18km rehabilitation/maintenance of the sea defences was awarded to BK International, while a French firm, Egis Bceom International, was awarded the contract to supervise the works.
Benn, Heikens and Minister of Finance, Ashni Singh, all agreed that sea defence is very critical to the populace living on the coast, and highlighted how much climate change and global warming would have an impact on the works.
“Continued sea defence management is critical, one: if we want to ensure that we continue the task that we have been achieving and two: because of climate change and global warming. Holding the line will be a sustainable activity if we do it smarter and with more efficiency.”
He said that well-maintained facade drains and general first-rate maintenance works will also ensure good water management “with respect to the conservancy.” Benn continued, “If we are to get ahead we need to do better work at maintaining. If we do not maintain proactively, in time we will be doing more and more rehabilitation and reconstruction work than we really need to have to do.”
The overall objective of the programme is in keeping with the National Development Strategy and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper to ensure sustainable living conditions for coastal residents and to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty.
It serves to complement assistance previously provided by the European Commission under the previous 7th and 8th CSS/NIP for Guyana. Further advancement of government initiatives is also provided for within the financing agreement, which is aimed towards alternative protective mechanisms against sea encroachment of the coastal areas, through the cultivation, development and sustenance of mangroves.