GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Private sector bodies met Thursday with government officials to discuss the Georgetown Drainage Improvement Project, part of Guyana’s broader effort to strengthen the capital’s flood resilience and modernize its urban infrastructure.
The multi-agency National Drainage Task Force, assembled by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, held a series of stakeholder engagements with representatives from the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), and the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana (WCCIG).
The sessions were led by Minister of Housing Collin Croal and Head of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth, who presented the project’s technical framework and outlined the government’s action plan to enhance drainage efficiency across the city.
Croal said the initiative forms part of a comprehensive short-, medium-, and long-term strategy to address Georgetown’s persistent flooding and infrastructure challenges. “Efficient drainage systems are integral to sustainable growth and urban resilience,” he said. “Our approach is holistic—it not only improves drainage but also incorporates upgrades to roads, parapets, and other public infrastructure.”
Wordsworth and a team of NDIA engineers detailed current bottlenecks within the city’s drainage network and proposed targeted interventions aimed at expanding and modernizing existing structures. The private sector groups pledged full support for the project, noting its importance to business continuity, public safety, and environmental sustainability.
Attending Thursday’s session were Chief Development Planner of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Germene Stewart; CH&PA Deputy Director of Projects Intakab Indarjeet; Georgetown City Engineer Colvern Venture; Solid Waste Manager from the Georgetown City Council Walter Narine; Chief Sea and River Defence Officer Kevin Samad; Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission’s Manager of Land Information and Mapping Division Naseem Nasir; Senior Surveyor of the Geodetic Section-Surveys Division Adrian Cheong; and officials from the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.
Officials said the Task Force will continue consultations over the coming weeks with additional private sector bodies, public agencies, and community representatives to ensure broad input into the plan. The schedule for public consultations will be published this weekend in national newspapers and on official government social media platforms.
Residents and stakeholders are invited to share feedback with the Task Force via email at nationaldrainagetaskforce.gy@gmail.com.
(Source: Ministry of Housing)