Gov’t signs €14.8M agreement with EU for sea and river defence upgrade

by in Guyana, News

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Georegtown : Guyana Government and the European Union signed a €14.8M Financing Agreement for the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Sea and River Defence Sector Budget Support Programme.

The programme will also cater for alternative measures that will help to mitigate the effects of emergencies.

Some of the areas where works will be done include, Johanna Cecilia, Zorg, and Onderneeming, Region Two and Leguan and Wakenaam, Region Three.

Finace Minister Dr.  Ashni Singh along with Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn and Head of the EU Delegation to Guyana, Ambassador Robert Kopecký signed the agreement yesterday that will see funding being disbursed over the next three years, given that the Public Works Ministry meets specific performance criteria in investment and performance targets.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Finance Ministry’s Main Street Office, Minister Singh expressed gratitude to the EU for such support, stating that it is certainly most welcomed since Guyana faces extreme vulnerability to climate change, given that almost 90% of the population lives on the coastal plain that is below sea level.

Minister Singh explained that Guyana’s entire gross domestic product is derived from the coastal plain, and given that almost all administrative, commercial and bureaucratic institutions reside on the low lying areas, the country stands to face complete decimation were the sea level to rise above 1.6 metres.

Ambassador Kopecký who highlighted the growing partnership between the Government of Guyana and the EU stated that the river and sea defence project is an ongoing one. He added that the project will seek to eliminate the destruction of walls and overtopping, and once there is proper infrastructure, more savings can be earned.

The 10th EDF Financing Agreement builds on previous Sea and River Defence programmes undertaken by the Government and the EU. The previous financial commitments made under the 7th, 8th and 9th EDFs have been implemented through project interventions, but recent policy development, institutional reforms and capacity building activities, have set the environment for continuing EDF assistance to the sea and river defences sector through Sector Budget Support.