§ 60. Mr. Roland Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what sums have been spent on sea defence works in British Guiana during the last three years; and whether a permanent solution of this problem has now been found?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreOn the information available total expenditure in connection with sea defence works in British Guiana during 1934–35–36 was as follows:
These figures include costs of administration, maintenance, and capital works. The figures for 1936 are approximate only as final figures have not been received.
1934. 1935. 1936. $ $ $ 591,735 424,895 302,290 As regards the second part of the question, I regret that I cannot state that any permanent solution has been found. Experts have recently visited Holland to study methods adopted there in dealing with similar problems, and special hydro-graphic surveys have been instituted in the Colony with a view to determining future policy.
§ Mr. RobinsonIs it not vital that a final solution should be found quickly in view of the serious and continuous drain on the financial resources of the Colony?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreWhen I was in British Guiana in 1922 this was considered an urgent problem, but the physical difficulties of the Atlantic are very great.
§ Mr. RobinsonIf it was urgent in 1922, is it not more urgent now?