EU recommits providing support for city drainage rehabilitation

Jul 01, 2017 News

The European Union has reiterated its commitment technical support for the city drainage rehabilitation project. During a recently held press conference, officials attached to the EU’s local Headquarters have said that the Union will be providing Guyana with continued support in this regard.
According to EU programme Officer, Odran Hayes, in addition to providing technical support, the EU will aid in terms of increasing the pumping and drainage capacity for Georgetown.
Hayes revealed a plan to provide two additional pumping systems with outfalls to the city. Part of the project, set to be addressed is a component for the Sea Defence project.
Additionally, the programme officer said that the EU will be working with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Civil Defence Commission (CDC), to address matters of legislative reform under the purview of sea defence mechanisms.
According to Hayes, the plan is to update the Sea Defence Act. The Union is also expected to provide assistance in terms of a new Disaster Risk Management Bill.
The Union is therefore slated to correlate with the CDC, various municipalities and several communities on mechanism on matters of disaster risk management.
An important component of the project, the EU rep disclosed will be towards encouraging young women to follow careers in Engineering and Science.” Hayes said that the Ministry of Public infrastructure had shown commitment in this regard.
Based on discussions, the EU Representative said the Ministry of Public Infrastructure has now committed to having 33% female representation on board.
Drainage has been a critical issue for the country, especially for the thousands of farmers along the coastland. With those areas below sea level, consecutive Governments have been battling to not only keep the ocean out, but to keep farmlands adequately irrigated.
It is by no means cheap; it included a European-funded project to plant mangroves as part of the sea defence fight.
In 2015 the David Granger-led administration had turned to the Dutch, for help to rebuild the country’s drainage system. In the past, the Dutch had helped build most of the country’s drainage system. The administration therefore looked to them for answers.
A subsequent visit was made by a team from the Netherlands. The team made recommendations to upgrade modelling capability; increase flood resilience of people and businesses; upgrade dredging capabilities and improve flow efficiency; develop long-term plans; develop and test a pilot project; develop and apply a life cycle approach for the drainage assets; and data management through digitisation.

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