APNU calls for national flood mitigation work plan ahead of May/June rainy season

In light of the recent flooding across Georgetown and along the coastline, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) party is calling for a visible, structured, and aggressive national work programme to mitigate flooding during the upcoming May/June rainy season.
Over the last few weeks, the Government has activated a series of measures after persistent rainfall inundated Georgetown and other areas along the coast. During this period, Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall stated that state agencies must accept responsibility for the flooding, but APNU believes that the Government must be held accountable.

“The issue requires the Government to show concern by developing and implementing the required plans. While the regular cleaning of drains and canals is necessary to support efficient drainage, it is only one component of an effective drainage system. From an engineering standpoint, the system must be capable of performing under high-intensity rainfall events, including hundred-year storm conditions,” APNU stated.
The party stated that efficient drains are essential to ensure that runoff reaches pump stations in a timely manner and that the required hydraulic head is available for effective pump operation.
“Where bottlenecks exist, engineered drains with the required hydraulic capacity must be constructed so that the system can be rapidly flushed of floodwaters. However, the more critical issue remains whether there is adequate discharge capacity at the outfalls, particularly during high tide when sluices are closed and reliance shifts to pumps.”
APNU reiterated that there is a need for a comprehensive flood reduction and prevention framework, supported by proper preparation and execution. Such an approach must be grounded in sound engineering principles, including system performance under major rainfall events and the alignment between conveyance efficiency and discharge capacity.
Budget 2026 allocates GY$196.1 billion for roads and bridges, part of a GY$1.558 trillion national budget, with the Government presenting this as proof that the country is moving in the right direction.
On this note, the APNU calls on the PPP/C regime to immediately present a clear and time-bound solid waste management plan and a flood mitigation and drainage work programme with defined actions for the upcoming May-June rainy period.
The plan must identify targeted communities, specify works to be undertaken, name responsible agencies, define timelines, assign equipment, and establish reporting mechanisms for public accountability.
“It is a matter of governance, competence, and priorities. Guyana does not lack money. What it lacks is coordination, execution, transparency in delivery, and a development agenda that places the lived conditions of ordinary citizens at the centre,” the party stated.