The Sea and River Defence allocation in Budget 2021 is not enough

Feb 16, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – In a KN Budget Day Report on Feb. 12, the Minister with responsibility for Finance (MoF) unveiled his 2021 Year presentation of a record $383.1B Budget with a meager $5.1B (1.33 % of the Budget) allocation to strengthen Guyana’s Sea and River defence capability.

Most of Guyana’s population and economic activities are located along the coastland and upper reaches of the rivers banks. Therefore, the MoF cannot unleash rapid economic growth as he claimed without the provision of a safe and secure environment which will require adequate investment in the necessary infrastructures to protect lives and properties from recurring floods caused by rising ocean levels and a decrepit sea and river defence.

Much of Guyana’s sea and river defence need substantial investment for their upgrade and/or replacement to with stand the increasing erosive and dynamic impact forces which cause breaches and overtopping. The recent breaches with accompanying flooding at Dantzig, Anna Catherina, Essequibo Coast and elsewhere are just a prelude of what is to be expected if concerted action is not taken to upgrade the system with dispatch, to protect the low-lying coastal and riverine areas from flooding and the consequential loss of lives and properties therefrom.

The $5.1B allocation in the Budget for Sea and River defence is just ‘a drop in the ocean’ and is unlikely to provide the urgently needed protection for those living along critical sections of the coastland and riverine areas from flooding. Therefore, it is evident that the priorities of the newly elected Govt. needs revision, to enable allocation of its resources to be put in those segments of the economy of such significant importance whereby the infrastructures needed to facilitate the rapid economic growth and development the MoF spoke so eloquently about in his presentation of the 2021 Year Budget.

Yours truly,

Charles Sohan