Gov’t spending $26B on new mega canals to improve drainage, irrigation

New mega canals similar to the Hope Canal on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) is being constructed at a cost of about $26 billion, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said on Thursday.

The Vice President, during a People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) press conference, said the new canals will be constructed in Regions Three, Five and Six.

In Region Three, about 28,000 acres of land will benefit from better water management through the new canals; in Region Five, 214,000 acres; and in Region Six, 188,000 acres.

The funding for these projects comes from Guyana’s carbon credits deal with the American oil firm, Hess Corporation. As per the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), 85% of all carbon credits proceeds are for national projects for climate adaptation.

But Jagdeo said these projects are part of a much larger plan to improve drainage and irrigation across Guyana.

There are also 19 pump stations, replete with 37 pumps, under construction across the country. When those projects are completed, Jagdeo said about 140,000 people will benefit.

And overall, the government is spending billions to improve drainage and irrigation locally.

“… in the five years [from 2020 to 2025] we will budgeting $115 billion to improve drainage and irrigation structures and to make our economy more resilient to flooding because of climate change,” Jagdeo said.