A contributing factor to the epic flooding in January 2005 was the government’s incorrect prediction of a drought, which led to the decision to close sluice doors to raise the level of standing water in the East Demerara Water Conservancy, former US Ambassador Roland Bullen said.
His assessment was made in an April 2006 cable to Washington released by whistle-blowing site WikiLeaks last week. Bullen noted that subsequent overtopping led to substantial flooding in Georgetown and the coastal plain. At the time, he was requesting from Washington