$650M pump station commissioned at Canal No 1

A $650 million pump station equipped with four drainage pumps has been commissioned at Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), as the Government advances a $23 billion drainage infrastructure programme aimed at reducing flooding across the region.

The facility, which has a combined pumping capacity of 580 cubic feet per second, is expected to improve drainage for approximately 5000 acres of land, providing greater protection for agricultural production, homes, and other properties.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who commissioned the facility on Wednesday, said the investment would benefit thousands of farmers and residents who have faced recurring flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.

However, the Minister disclosed that the Government is undertaking a much larger drainage improvement programme in Region Three, involving the construction of high-level canals, internal drains and embankments to protect communities and agricultural lands.

Mustapha said some $23 billion would be expended on the works over the next one to two years, with construction already underway on a high-level canal intended to improve drainage for the Canal Number One and Canal Number Two polders and surrounding areas.

The project, he explained, would provide a system capable of draining water around the clock, discharging directly into the Demerara River.

“We will have a 24-hour drainage system… draining directly into the Demerara River,” Mustapha told those gathered at the commissioning ceremony.

He said the high-level canal would form part of an integrated drainage system designed to improve the movement of excess water from agricultural and residential areas, particularly during prolonged rainfall.

According to the Minister, while the construction of pump stations remains an important component of the Government’s drainage programme, additional infrastructure is necessary to address the country’s flooding challenges.

He explained that the Government is moving beyond reliance on traditional gravity drainage, which can become overwhelmed by increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.

Mustapha noted that Region Three is among Guyana’s most productive agricultural regions, supporting rice cultivation, cash crop farming and livestock production.

However, he acknowledged that farmers and residents have endured significant losses over the years as a result of flooding.

“Too often, farmers have watched months of hard work disappear in a matter of hours because of flooding,” the Agriculture Minister pointed out.

The Minister explained that such losses extend beyond damaged crops, affecting farmers’ investments, household incomes and opportunities to expand production.

He said the Canal Number One Pump Station would provide greater security for farmers while strengthening the area’s capacity to cope with heavy rainfall.

The facility has four drainage pumps, including two additional pumps installed as part of the project, according to information released by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The project also included the construction of a new community centre valued at approximately $60 million.

Meanwhile, Mustapha disclosed that six pump stations have been constructed in Region Three as part of a wider national programme involving 18 pump stations.

He said the newly commissioned Canal Number One facility would complement other drainage infrastructure being developed in the region.

The Minister also addressed delays affecting several pump station projects, including those at Bellevue and other locations.

“We are working assiduously with the contractor to deliver those four pump stations that will come into operation shortly,” Mustapha stated.

He expressed confidence that the completion of those facilities, together with the proposed high-level canal system, would significantly strengthen drainage capacity and reduce flooding risks.

Turning to national investment in drainage and irrigation, Mustapha disclosed that $81.9 billion, representing 72.3 per cent of the Ministry of Agriculture’s $113.2 billion budget for 2026, has been allocated to drainage and irrigation.

He compared this with the $9 billion allocated to drainage and irrigation in 2020, noting that the increase reflects the Government’s efforts to modernise the country’s drainage infrastructure.

The Minister also highlighted the growth in the Ministry’s overall budget, which increased from $18.5 billion in 2020 to $113.2 billion this year.

He said the investments form part of President Irfaan Ali’s wider programme to modernise agriculture, expand production and strengthen national food security.

According to Mustapha, improved drainage and irrigation infrastructure would provide farmers with greater confidence to expand cultivation, diversify production and invest in their operations.

He stressed that protecting agricultural lands is essential to ensuring that Guyana can increase food production and meet growing demand locally and throughout the Caribbean.

Minister of Agriculture Vikash Ramkissoon, who also addressed the ceremony, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to providing infrastructure that improves the lives of citizens.

National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Chairman Lionel Wordsworth also highlighted the importance of the investment, noting that the Canal Number One facility is among six pump stations constructed in Region Three over the past six years.

Mustapha, meanwhile, urged residents and farmers to work closely with the NDIA and regional authorities to ensure the proper operation and maintenance of the facility.

The Minister encouraged the community to safeguard the investment, noting that its continued effectiveness would depend on proper maintenance and cooperation between residents and the relevant authorities.