CDB Portfolio Manager William Ashby

THE GOVERNMENT of Guyana and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) on Wednesday launched a US$30.9M Sea and River Defence Resilience Project estimated to benefit more than 45,000 Guyanese.The multi-million dollar project, which will result in approximately 5.4km of sea and river defences being reconstructed and improved in eight critical areas, had received the financial approval of the CDB in December 2013 but it was only in April 2014 that the loan agreement was signed. In accordance with that agreement, the CDB will loan Guyana US$25M of the US$30.9M and the Government will fill the gap by providing the remaining US$5.9M.

Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson

The official launching unfolded at the Pegasus Hotel in the presence of the Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; the Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson; Chairman of the Sea Defence Board, John Cush; CDB Portfolio Manager, William Ashby, and Finance Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Hector Butts among other officials.

The Minister of Infrastructure, in delivering the feature address, said the 5.4km of sea and river defences that will undergo rehabilitation represent approximately 2% of the country’s 425km foreshore that requires protection.

Nevertheless, he said this project was very important, explaining that Guyana’s sea and river defences formed part of an integrated system that played a vital role in the protection of people, assets, livelihoods and the environment in the coastal belt. The integrated system, he added, contributed to the sustainable economic growth and future socio-economic developmental opportunities to the minimization of shore line erosion and the prevention of flooding.

In highlighting the contributions made by the Caribbean financial institution to the development of Guyana, Patterson pointed out that at the end of 2013, the bank had approved a number of long term loans amounting to US$255M.

In the area of sea and river defence, it was further pointed out that the first loan totaling GUY$1.8B was issued in 2002 for the rehabilitation of approximately 4.5km in sea defence work in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

In 2006, the second loan of GUY$1.95B was approved and was used to execute a total of 2.4km of sea defence work. The US$25M loan which now forms part of the US$30.9M Sea and River Defence Resilience Project has several components with a primary focus on flood protection infrastructure.

The Public Infrastructure Minister explained that though the project will be executed across eight critical locations, project sites have been established in 20 communities in Regions Two, Three, Four and Six.

The multi-million dollar project also includes engineering services, consultancy services for public awareness and education activities, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation and project management.

The CDB Portfolio Manager, in his presentation, reiterated that the project would result in enhanced resilience to coastal and riverine hazards and the effects of climate change through strengthened sea and river defence systems.

He stated that the Government of Guyana had identified the protection of people and productive land through climate change adaptation measures as a priority, noting that the coastal protection strategy had long included efforts to manage the natural sea defences, as well as extending, upgrading and maintaining the system of sea and river defence infrastructure.

Subsequent to the launch of the project, the CDB Operations Officer and the Senior Engineer/Project Manager for the Sea Defence Donor Funded Programme – Work Services Group (WSG) Jermaine Braithwaite were among officials who explained key aspects of the project. These include: the project overview; environmental impacts and mitigation measures; environmental impact and climate change. Discussions on this project are expected to continue today at the Pegasus Hotel.