Latest update January 12th, 2025 3:51 AM
Latest News
- Driver charged with 2023 fatal accident, placed on bail
- Israel steps up Gaza attacks amid renewed ceasefire push
- Implement national voluntary programmes to address youth involvement in crime – Nigel Hughes
- Hand-in-Hand Group and CCWU sign new labour agreements
- Vista Services Inc. launches streaming platform to showcase eco-destinations
National Budget 2014…$1.9B for sea and river defence upgrade
Government has allocated $1.9B in this year’s National Budget to ensure the further strengthening of the sea and river defence infrastructure.
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, during his budget presentation said, rising sea levels continue to threaten the already vulnerable coastland.
(File photo) Rip-rap sea defence infrastructure at Stewartville
He added that whilst utilising new and emerging technologies for the improvement and sustainability of the structural integrity of the sea and river defence infrastructures, Guyana is promoting experimental soft and hard interventions.
This year, the Ministry of Public Works will be executing critical sea and river defence works in Regions Two to Seven. In addition, the mangrove restoration and replanting programme will continue with the planting of 50,000 mangrove seedlings, spartina grassing in selected areas, construction of geotextile breakwater structures, and the hydrological restoration of Wellington Park mangrove site.
According to Dr. Singh, Government will invest more than US$65M over the next five years in infrastructural works and coastal zone management systems, which will benefit almost 90 percent of our population.
These interventions include construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of more than 80 kilometres of sea and river defence infrastructures, the implementation of an integrated shore zone management system that will enhance resilience to coastal and riverine hazards, and integrated flood risk preparedness strategies, he said.
The Minister said that to reduce the risk of flooding and loss of land, Government’s policy is to foster better harmonisation among coastal zone and flood management stakeholders in close coordination with our national disaster management agency and strategy.
In 2013, the sum of $1.7 billion was disbursed for the improvement of our sea and river defence infrastructure. Under the piloted interventions bamboo brushwood dams, iron bamboo fences and rubber mound groynes were constructed to protect young mangrove seedlings from destruction and promote mangrove restoration.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Boycott apartheid goods!
Dem Boys Seh… Kaieteur News- Dem boys seh when yuh see wrong, yuh supposed to call it out. But some people like they... more
Clarifying misconceptions about the Panama Canal
Sir Ronald Sanders (Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS) By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News–... more
Weekend Cartoon
