The government therefore wants to invest in the modernization of the nation’s water management and give special attention to the Wakay pumps that were installed dozens of years ago.

“Sustainable growth is impossible without a properly functioning water management system,” said President Simons. Most of Suriname is located in low coastal regions where the drainage system plays a crucial role. Throughout the years polders, waterways and drainage canals were constructed but according to the head of state many of these systems did not receive proper maintenance. President Simons explained that Suriname is facing weather conditions that keep changing. Periods of rain have become irregular and flooding happens more frequently which is why agrarian regions are extremely vulnerable. The president pointed out that the state of the Wakay pumps are a big problem.

These pumps were installed in 1958 and the last time that they were given maintenance on a large scale was in 2011. The old pumps no longer function efficiently. “They do not do much. We cannot continue with them,” said President Simons who added that the Wakay pumps use between 300,000 and 600,000 liters of diesel annually. The Simons administration is therefore looking for modern electric pumps but it is also considering solar energy as an alternative source. But the pumps are not the only thing that must be addressed. President Simons made it clear that the canals, floodgates and drainage systems must also be addressed. It will also be essential to provide regular maintenance to guarantee that water management can take place optimally.