Persistent flooding, rising sea levels and mounting pressure on Georgetown’s ageing drainage network have led engineer Patrice Jacobs to propose an automated koker management system that could improve drainage efficiency and reduce flood risks across the capital.

On Monday, Jacobs presented the proposal to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), arguing that Georgetown’s drainage infrastructure—much of which still relies on gravity and manually operated kokers—is increasingly unable to cope with the demands of a rapidly expanding city, changing weather patterns and rising sea levels.

The proposal comes at a time when flooding remains one of the most persistent challenges confronting Georgetown and Guyana’s low-lying coastal plain, where the vast majority of the population lives and conducts business.