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With over $240B invested in drainage and irrigation, govt. failing to protect flood-prone communities – Vinceroy Jordan
(Kaieteur News) – A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Vinceroy Jordan has accused the government of failing to protect flood-prone communities, despite allocating over $240 billion to drainage and irrigation works since 2020.
In a missive posted on the party’s Facebook page, Jordan said communities and flood-prone areas remain submerged year-after-year, even as budgetary allocations for drainage and irrigation continue to increase.
He argued that the recurring floods are not unexpected but stem from weak planning, poor execution and an overreliance on short-term measures.
APNU’s Member of Parliament Vinceroy Jordan
“Communities such as Black Bush Polder and many other flood prone areas in Guyana have once again been left submerged, with homes damaged, crops destroyed, and livelihoods placed at risk. These floods are not unexpected or unavoidable. They are the direct result of poor planning, weak implementation, and a reliance on short-term “quick fixes” instead of durable, long-term solutions,” Jordan stated.
The MP also outlined the allocation to drainage and irrigation since 2020. He noted that approximately $12 billion was allocated for drainage and irrigation in 2021, followed by $13 billion in 2022. Spending rose to about $20 billion in 2023, while the Ministry of Agriculture reported that more than $98.7 billion was spent on drainage and irrigation works in 2024 alone. For 2025, a further $104.6 billion was allocated.
Despite these investments, Jordan said the impact on the ground has been minimal for residents and farmers in flood-prone communities.
“These enormous expenditures, the same communities flood year after year. Black Bush Polder farmers continue to suffer millions of dollars in losses. Residents of many other communities face recurring inundation, damaged property, and uncertainty every rainy season. This raises a serious and unavoidable question: where is the return on this massive public investment,” the parliamentarian noted.
Further, he stated that the government’s approach has been largely reactive, with pumps and relief measures deployed only after communities are already flooded, instead of implementing long-term, climate-resilient solutions.
“The reality is clear: spending money without proper planning, climate-resilient design, timely execution, and regular maintenance does not solve flooding… After over five years in office and billions of dollars spent, the PPP Government can no longer blame weather, tides, or “unusual rainfall.” This is a failure of governance and accountability,” he stated.
Additionally, he noted that with over five years in office and billions of dollars spent government can no longer blame weather, tides, or “unusual rainfall” but must take accountability.
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