For generations, Guyana’s low-lying coast has been at the mercy of the Atlantic. Heavy rains and high tides could mean knee-deep flooding in front yards, destroyed crops, and school closures. But in recent years, a smarter approach to flood control is beginning to pay off.
Under a national drainage and irrigation strategy backed by the Natural Resource Fund and international partners like the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Guyana has constructed more than 35 new pump stations and sluices across the coastal belt from Regions 2 through 6 (CDB Project Report, 2024). These stations automatically pump out excess water during heavy rainfall or high tides, preventing flash floods and long-term waterlogging.
Take the recently completed pump station at Hope, Region 4. Within its first six months of operation, it prevented flooding in over 500 acres of farmland, saving crops valued at G$100 million (Hydromet Department, 2023). This doesn’t just help farmers—it protects household food security and stabilizes prices at urban markets.
Residents now speak of sleeping easier, of not having to sweep water from their kitchens, of not losing livestock overnight. These are the everyday wins that don’t make front-page news but change lives profoundly.
With smart engineering and strong leadership, what used to be a national weakness is now becoming a strength.
