In Georgetown Guyana capital a powerful new pump station is helping locals breathe easier during rainy days. Nicknamed “Bullet” for its lightning-fast speed the US$6 million pump at Liliendaal has become the heart of the country’s coastal flood defenses and a symbol of community hope.
Built just a few meters from the Atlantic Ocean the pump station is part of the Guyana Flood Risk Management Project a decade-long partnership between the Government of Guyana and the World Bank. This initiative focused on upgrading the country’s coastal drainage and irrigation system to better protect both urban and rural communities from floods.
Each of the station two massive pumps can remove 4.3 cubic meters of water every second that’s roughly 43 bathtubs of water making it one of the most powerful stations of its kind in the country.
The community affectionately calls it “Bullet” because of how fast it clears floodwater. Basil Singh 65-year-old tailor and lifelong resident of Liliendaal says “We named the new pump ‘Bullet.’ When the canals start filling, in no time, ‘Bullet’ carries the water away.” He still remembers the distress of past floods especially the devastating 2005 floods when water reached knee-high and stayed for days.It was terrible he says.
Now thanks to the new pump, not only Liliendaal but also surrounding areas like Turkeyen, Cummings Lodge, and even South Ruimveldt are experiencing fewer floods. The canal network is all connected, so when Bullet gets to work, it brings relief to thousands.
Singh also says “The pump station is a blessing amazed at the technology used particularly the way underground pipes were installed without disturbing one of Georgetown’s busiest highways. We still ask ourselves what kind of technology that was. It surprised us all.”
Diletta Doretti from the World Bank called it a strong example of development that directly benefits people. “Together with the Government of Guyana, we’re making sure families live safer and better lives.”
Still residents understand that the pump is not a magic fix. Patricia, a single mother, points out, “When people throw garbage in the canal and it’s not cleaned, water backs up fast.” The success of “Bullet,” she says, depends on community effort just as much as government investment.
Phagwandai a resident of 35 years, says she finally feels at peace. “Even if the rain sets up and the canal fills when the pump turns on, everything’s gone. No more floods”. With the pump humming and canals flowing clear, the people of Liliendaal see a safer future ahead. The “Bullet” pump isn’t just a machine it’s a shot of hope, fired straight into the heart of a once flood-weary community.
