GEORGETOWN, Guyana — President Irfaan Ali on Monday announced that public consultations will begin next week on a major drainage-rehabilitation programme as part of a broader “Rescuing Georgetown” initiative aimed at modernising the capital’s infrastructure and reducing chronic flooding.
The three-week process, which will engage residents and stakeholders across multiple wards, will guide a comprehensive drainage-development plan that Ali said will move swiftly from design to implementation.
“I had committed to putting together a team to look at the drainage system of Georgetown, to do a rapid assessment, review all existing studies, and come up with a comprehensive development plan followed by an implementation schedule,” Ali said during a meeting with ministers and technical staff.
The initiative will use satellite imagery, LiDAR and other digital tools to map the city’s primary, secondary and tertiary drains and inform a modern network design. The president said the plan will prioritise critical zones and will be backed by sustained maintenance schedules and monitoring systems.
Early works will include clearing clogged parapets and canals across the city — an effort Ali said will require public cooperation, as crews remove vegetation, derelict structures and illegal encumbrances.
“People have to understand there may be some inconvenience, but this is about protecting lives, property, and the long-term health of the city,” he said.
Ali said the effort ties into wider urban-renewal plans under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, including upgraded drainage, enhanced green spaces, improved parking and roadways, and beautification drives.
The president pledged visible action before year-end and reiterated his goal of transforming the capital into one of the Caribbean’s most attractive and climate-resilient cities.
“This is the beginning of the rescue of Georgetown,” he said. “We are building a city that is resilient, modern and worthy of our people.”