Georgetown: The Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Works Services Group says it will continue to develop and implement plans and ideas that will make sea and river defence structures more resilient to overtopping during high tides.
In recent months when Guyana experienced high tide, there was overtopping of the sea and river defence structures in Georgetown, especially between Camp Street and Vlissengen road and beyond along the Rupert Craig Highway at the University of Guyana.
Geoffrey Vaughn, Coordinator of Works Services Group told GINA that, the sea and river defence division has done its analysis and will be making interventions to actually prevent the amount of overtopping in those areas.
He added that one of the methods being reviewed for use is the break water structure which can be constructed seawards. This would be an addition to others being used at present to prevent overtopping.
Whilst the cost of laying a single rip-rap structure stands at approximately US$2500, it is much cheaper compared to the construction of one vertical wall which costs approximately US$4000.
“We have to weigh all those possibilities, but we have been doing the analysis and have been coming up with ways and means in which we can basically say we will hold the line with this climate change and sea level rise,” Vaughn declared.
As the administration understands the importance played by sea and river defence structures, particularly against the backdrop of citizens enjoying a better quality of life, and Guyana being a tourist destination, significant sums have been allocated for rehabilitation and construction of such structures countrywide.
For 2015 $1.4B has been allocated for the strengthening of sea and river defence infrastructure with critical works taking place in Regions 2 to 7. The administration intends to continue the heavy investments for the construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of critical sections of the country’s sea and river defence infrastructure, utilising sustainable and cost-effective designs and solutions.
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