Excessive rainfall strains drainage systems – Pres Ali

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday visited Mahaicony Creek and communities along Branch Road, East Coast Demerara, where he met with residents and farmers affected by flooding triggered by intense and prolonged rainfall.
During the visit, the President assessed affected areas, engaged stakeholders on the ground, and received updates on ongoing drainage and irrigation responses. He said the country has experienced sustained rainfall across coastal, savannah and wetland regions, contributing to rising water levels in several areas.
“We’ve had excessive rainfall, not only on the coastline but for a long period in the deep savannas and in the wetlands. As a result, we are now seeing the water coming down,” President Ali said.

He noted that existing investments in drainage infrastructure are beginning to show results, while acknowledging that additional works are still underway to strengthen flood resilience. He pointed to the Hope-like Canal project as a key long-term intervention that would improve water storage and discharge capacity during periods of heavy rainfall.
According to the President, once completed, the system is expected to help manage high water volumes in a similar way to existing drainage solutions on the East Coast.
“We are definitely seeing some of the results… when that Hope-like Canal is completed, we will have the same scenario as we are having on the East Coast, where excessive storage and discharge of water will be accommodated,” he said.
Head of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Lionel Wordsworth, said the President had directed immediate interventions following reports of worsening conditions in Mahaicony Creek.
He said the NDIA has deployed excavators to assist farmers in strengthening embankments, clearing drainage pathways, and supporting pumping operations. He also noted that several farmers have been using their own tractor-driven pumps to remove floodwaters, with technical support from the agency.
“In addition, a request was made to relocate a pump from Garden Table to the outlet that drains into Mahaicony Creek, and that will be done today,” Wordsworth said.
He added that another pump will be deployed to New Providence, while works are also being carried out along the Jagdeo Canal to strengthen embankments and improve drainage across approximately 15,000 acres of agricultural land.

Wordsworth said areas between the river and flood embankments, particularly from High Park to Forest Savanna, have been significantly affected, although some sections continue to benefit from existing flood protection structures.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Sonia Parag, who also visited the area with the head of state, said the government’s response reflects coordinated national-level attention to the flooding situation.
She noted that Cabinet-level engagement ensured officials were deployed across affected regions to assess conditions and support residents.
Parag said comparisons between earlier flooding events and current conditions show improvements in infrastructure and response capacity, while acknowledging ongoing challenges in some communities.
The President said short-term measures under consideration include increased pumping support and canal maintenance, alongside longer-term drainage expansion works.
“It’s a difficult situation, but I can see some of the investments we made after 2021 would have helped a bit. There is still a lot more work that is ongoing,” he said.
He added that continued development of drainage infrastructure, including embankments in the backlands and expanded canal systems, remains central to reducing future flood impacts in vulnerable communities.