Guyana’s National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) in Mon Repos recently signed an agreement with Georgetown-based Samaroo Investment to install geotextile tubes to form groynes — barriers built out into the sea from a beach to check erosion and drifting — along the foreshore at Reliance on the Essequibo coast to boost sea defence.

The $13.8-million contract was signed by NAREI CEO Oudho Homenauth and Doodnauth Samaroo, managing director of the contracting company, according to a press release from Guyana’s ministry of agriculture.

Geotextile tubes, manufactured from geosynthetic materials to achieve the desired formation, are used as a cost-effective alternative for coastal and marine projects. These tubes are installed by filling these with sand or suitable dredged material.

NAERI earlier used geotextile tube groynes at Devonshire castle coast which resulted in increased elevation and natural regeneration. (DS)