President Irfaan Ali during a visit to the North West on Friday told residents the Government of Guyana will make available $10 million to commence the cleaning and dredging of the Moruca River. This he said is to ensure that residents and visitors are guaranteed safety when travelling along the Moruca River.
The Moruca River is in Region One (Barima-Waini) and known for its varying water levels depending on the season. The river mouth opens to the Atlantic Ocean, with mangrove forests along the shoreline. The failure to desilt the River has resulted in numerous sand banks, making it difficult for boats to traverse freely, posing risk to limbs, lives and livelihood.
Over the years the government’s failure to invest in dredging and desilting of Guyana waterways- from Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo Rivers, to the various canals- has contributed to massive floods in the hinterland and on the coastland.
The most recent being Linden in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice). According to the Regional Chairman, Deron Adams, the Regional Democratic Council in its budgetary proposals from 2020-2024 requested fmoney to upgrade and maintain over 50 drains. The government denied all the requests.
The flooding in Linden has resulted in economic havoc in the community, serious damage to properties, dislocations of families, and exposed residents to potential risk to water borne diseases.
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