Works started on Reg 6 Hope Canal replica; No 66 to Canje embankment completed – Mustapha

Works have started on at least one Hope canal replica in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), with Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha also revealing to residents that an embankment in the region stretching from No. 66 village to Canje has also been completed.
During an event where he distributed heavy duty equipment to Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) in the region, the Agriculture Minister also spoke of the ambitious Hope-like canal project.
“We’ve already started, in Region Six, the massive Hope-like canal, where we are building two Hope-like canals at Manchester/Lancaster, 51/52. We have already built an embankment from no. 66 to Canje, so that we can keep away the backland water (from coming) in to the drainage system of the cultivation area and the housing area.”
“So, we have those high-level canals that will drain the water directly from the backlands, right in to the Atlantic. So those stresses that use to be placed on the drainage system, will not be there when we have a heavy downpour of rain,” Mustapha said.

Minister Mustapha also noted that an embankment, spanning nearly 90 kilometres from Mahaica to Ithaca, is currently under construction. The project aims to prevent water from encroaching on the backlands and to protect farmland and residential properties.
“Part of that contract has already been awarded. And we are building a number of Hope-like canals. Places like Cottage, Dantzig, right here at Abary. High level canals that would drain the water from the backland, right onto the Atlantic. So that your cultivation and housing area would not have those problems,” he stated.
According to Mustapha, they are also looking at the construction of a Hope Canal-like replica in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara). Additionally, construction has started on at least one of the Hope canals earmarked for Region Six.
“We’re also looking at Region Three, a place you call Beeline, to do another Hope-like canal there. So you can see the massive integrated comprehensive drainage system that we are talking about. So, you’ll see very shortly, works will commence in this area,” Mustapha explained.

“Region Six has started. Within a matter of weeks, you’ll see already contractors have already been mobilised to take their machines there from the back, to start the work. And the cost for these, the investment, is massive. Its approximately $23 billion which will be invested in this massive, mega project to drain our country.”
The Hope Canal, or Northern Relief Channel, which is located at Hope/Dochfour, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is a multi-component channel that allows excess water from the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) to be drained into the Atlantic Ocean via an eight-door sluice, so as to avoid overflowing and possible flooding.
That canal, which cost some $3.6 billion, was conceptualised under the then Bharrat Jagdeo-led People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government, and was constructed following the 2005 floods.
At the time, excessive rainfall, compounded by a breach in the embankment, had resulted in Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Five (Mahaica-Berbice) experiencing massive flooding, causing significant damage to agricultural and residential areas.
After several delays, the Hope Canal project became operational in 2016. Noting its climate mitigation benefits, the Government wants the project replicated in other regions.
As far back as 2021, President Ali had said the Hope Canal was instrumental in preventing massive flooding along the ECD during the unprecedented May-June floods.
Moreover, he had announced that similar infrastructure would be constructed in other regions to curb devastating floods. These include Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).