Over $600M invested in Hydrometeorological infrastructure in recent years — Ramkissoon

More than $600 million has been invested over the past five years to strengthen Guyana’s hydrometeorological infrastructure and capabilities.

This was disclosed by Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Vickash Ramkissoon, during the launch of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Hydrometeorological Service of Guyana.

The Minister highlighted that the government has been focusing on enhancing the predictive capacity of the Hydromet Service through the development of climate forecasting capabilities.

As a result, the agency now possesses the capacity to provide long-term climate projections for Guyana, in addition to its existing monthly climate variability outlooks that extend up to six months in advance.

“The installation of new Automatic Weather Stations in every region: allowing for the near real-time collection and transmission of weather data that is accessible to local, regional, and international stakeholders. This is transformational, especially as we seek to improve disaster preparedness and response, while building our country’s climate resilience,” Ramkissoon stated.

He added that the installation of micro-automatic weather stations at all major hinterland aerodromes is currently ongoing, following a request from the local aviation sector.

“This will allow pilots to access real-time weather data as they traverse hinterland regions and significantly improve air navigation safety, especially in cases of inclement weather and or the need for nighttime air navigation,” the Minister explained.

Ramkissoon further noted that continued investments are being made to expand the water quality laboratory to enhance understanding of the nation’s water resources and strengthen capacity to address threats arising naturally or from agricultural and mining activities.

Additionally, he said the recent reconvening of the National Water Council will play a crucial role in bolstering the management of water resources, as Guyana works to meet its commitments under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).