The Pepper Sluice located in East Canje Berbice which was once operated and maintained by GuySuCo will return to operation as plans are in store to have it rehabilitated as part of a project where 63 drainage structures countrywide will be done.
Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha on Saturday told Stabroek News that following a meeting with the World Bank they have received approval for the 63 sluices to be done countrywide at a cost of US$45m.
The project will be overseen by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority.
“We have a programme that will come on stream shortly, a programme with the World Bank that they will rehabilitate 63 sluices across the country and there are a number of sluices that are in Berbice.”
Mustapha on Saturday confirmed that the Pepper Sluice located in Cumberland, East Canje Berbice will be included.
The Pepper Sluice was operated under GuySuCo however many years ago it went out of operation due to it being heavily silted up among other issues, leaving the Canje community at risk of flooding.
Residents in the Canje community since the return of the current administration have pleaded for works to be carried out on the sluice to bring it back to operation as it is one of the main drainage systems in the Canje area.
In 2021, Mustapha had visited Canje after major flooding and residents pleaded to have the Pepper Sluice reactivated and while it was a large undertaking, Mustapha assured that he would work to have it done.
As such on Saturday he said, “I can remember Pepper Sluice, at Cumberland that is a major drainage to drain that area and a number of other sluices in New Amsterdam, Upper Corentyne and along the Coast will be rehabilitated.”
Additionally, he stressed that a “massive drainage” system is being embarked on across the country as works have commenced on the high-level Hope-like canals “at the 52/51 area there, the embankment from Number 66 to in Canje has started and very shortly the second phase of the project from Lancaster will be awarded so that the entire two Hope-like canals for Region Six will start shortly, as I said the first phase 51/52 and the 66 embankment have started already.”
The World Bank on July 10 announced approval of the US$45m project to help Guyana adapt to climate change and reduce flood risk on its coast. Financed by Norwegian grant money, the initiative is set to benefit around 320,000 people, approximately 40 percent of the country’s population, including the most vulnerable, according to a release from the World Bank.
It noted that Guyana is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change.
