CDB grants $161M for study of sea defences, designs

The Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) last week Monday approved a grant of $161 million, the equivalent of GBP603,000 (1GBP = $268) to fund a feasibility study and designs for the rehabilitation of the coastal and river infrastructure in the Georgetown area.

According to a media bulletin issued last Friday by the CDB, the project will cover the reconstruction of the facilities at the major river passenger and goods-transport hubs at the Stabroek Market and Vreed-en-Hoop on the Demerara River, which provide an alternative route to the crowded roads, for commuters and goods between the two points. The docks at both ports are inadequate, and cannot serve the current levels of traffic which they receive.

“Rehabilitation of the sea defences is expected to have significant transformational effects, on the city. Improving this critical infrastructure will help increase access to facilitate business, trade and social needs, and contribute to the growth in prosperity, poverty reduction and improved resilience to the effects of climate change in Guyana,” Andrew Dupigny, Head of Infrastructure Partnerships at CDB, was quoted as saying in the press release.

The CDB release noted that the communities are protected by a network of seawalls and stone revetments, but these have deteriorated significantly over the years, due in part to the impact of climate change. It added that 90 % of the population live along the coast which is below sea level at high tide.

According to the press release the project will include a feasibility study and the preparation of detailed designs and cost estimates for the rehabilitation of sea defences and ancillary waterfront development between Georgetown and Liliendaal. It is being funded through the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund, which is administered by the CDB.