With the government aiming to build two Hope-like canals in Region Six, President Irfaan Ali last Sunday disclosed that with these structures the risk of flooding is expected to be reduced by 60%.
Ali announced that the region is likely to see the commencement of construction of the canals in the next three months. According to him, with the risk of flooding to be reduced, the risk of financing projects for farmers then becomes lower allowing the region’s farmers easier access to financing.
The controversial $3.6 billion Hope Canal was built to alleviate the risk of flooding from the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC).
Importantly, Ali said also that when the risk of the damage of flooding is reduced then the value of land increases “So when we build the new road network and the new drainage facility for the lands we are not only giving you drainage and irrigation for the production capacity we are also increasing the value of your land, we are increasing the value of your asset, we are increasing your net worth.”
Sources close the to the project disclosed to the Sunday Stabroek that companies have been prequalified so far, however, the awarding of the projects is still to be done.
According to the sources, the areas earmarked for the canals are Letter Kenny Village, Corentyne, and between Number 52 – 54 Village, Corentyne.
Farmers in the region have expressed their support for the canals and are hopeful that the risk of flooding will be severely reduced as most within the Upper Corentyne Area pointed out that during the last major flood their losses were devastating. Some even said that they are still yet to fully get back on their feet after that flood.
Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha recently told farmers in Region Six that there has been an all-round change in the agriculture sector’s landscape since his government took office stressing that there has been increased production and improved and new infrastructure countrywide.
As such, he said that this year within the region there will be two Hope-like canals built in the region.
According to the Minister, farmers from the region were apart of a consultation with Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo where they were informed of the government’s intention to the build the canals.
He noted, that because of the Hope canal at Hope on the East Coast of Demerraa, during the 2021 flood Georgetown and the East Coast of Demerara were not seriously affected as Berbice was. During that flood farmers in various fields reported millions in losses in Region Six.
“Similar canals will be built in the Corentyne so the water from the backlands instead of coming to your drainage canal that we have now will eventually end up in that Hope like canal that drains directly to the Atlantic”, he told farmers and residents of Black Bush Polder recently.
Embankment
According to the Minister, government is also making an investment in building a “high level embankment” which runs from New Forest, East Canje Berbice to the Corentyne.
He explained, “So we will build two in Region Six and there will be a number of interlinking canals that will run directly to the Hope-like canals, from Number 66 to Canje where the Canje Creek water normally comes across and come in this area when we have heavy rainfall we are building an embankment, a high level embankment so that the water from that creek will not come across into the Black Bush Polder or cut cross the cultivation area, all the cultivation area.”
According to Mustapha, by the end of March the embankment project should begin. Rice and cattle farmers along those areas have for years complained about flooding as the Canje Creek easily overflows whenever it rains.
“We will start the construction of the two Hope-like canals, then the entire drainage system, places like the Kokerite Savannah and other areas that accumulate a lot of water when they have heavy rain fall will link directly to the Hope-like canal so that the water will not come into your cultivation and drainage canal for you, it will go directly.”
He assured farmers that after the canals are in operation, “your canals that you have will drain your water in your community so the stress that we used to have in this area here when the entire community does be flooded out will be avoided.”
Additionally, Mustapha said that a number of other facilities will also be built this year to enhance the capacity of farmers.
The Hope canal was one of the major projects of the 2006 Bharrat Jagdeo administration in the aftermath of the 2005 Great Flood. However, it encountered severe delays and the life of the 2011 Donald Ramotar administration expired without it being commissioned.
It has four components: the Northern Relief channel, which is 10.3km in length from the sea defence embankment and extending to the EDWC; a high level outfall sluice; a conservancy head regulator; and a public bridge.
