All NDCs in region four to be equipped to maintain community drainage networks

– GOV’s investment of more than $ 238 million to obtain excavators

As part of the government’s efforts to empower the local authorities of the government across the country, the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, has given four mini-excavators to four neighborhood democratic councils (NDC) on the east coast of Demerara .

The machines, each evaluated at around $ 14 million, will be used to carry out drainage work in residential communities in their respective watershed areas in region four (Demerara-Mahaica).

Minister Mustapha, while speaking to residents and farmers at the discount ceremony held on Saturday at the Ministry of Agriculture Complex (LBI), said the 17 NDC of the Region four will soon have access to an excavator, thanks to the Government of Guyana, representing a total investment of approximately 238 million dollars.

He told residents that within the framework of the government’s vision to develop a complete drainage system across the country, the Ministry of Agriculture, through the National Draining and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), has a role Essential to play when it comes to providing drainage and irrigation in culture and residence communities.

“We are developing a complete drainage system that can resist one of the problems we are currently facing in this part of the world, climate change. In recent years, Guyana, like many other countries in the region, has experienced non -seasonal weather conditions. The existing drainage system of our country was designed to drain approximately a thumb and a half of water in 24 hours. If the funds are not allocated to improve the existing system, we will continually encounter serious difficulties. If we want to fully restore our status as a Caribbean bread mouth, we must invest and develop a full drainage system, “he said.

Before Sunday’s activity, Minister Mustapha had declared that the president of Dr. Irfaan Ali and the vice-president of Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo had asked that the resources be allocated to allow the local government authorities to be able to maintain the drainage systems in the within their communities.

Minister Mustapha also declared that the government actively endeavored to develop a drainage system necessary to effectively drain the vulnerable areas of this country in time.
“After the 2005 floods, the PPP / C government began to develop the system necessary to effectively drain the vulnerable areas of this country in a timely manner. This is why we built the high -level channel in Hope, which we call the Hope Canal. When we built this channel, many people, especially the opposition, had a lot of negative things to say, “said Minister Mustapha.

“We lived to see this same structure playing a very critical role in 2021 when Guyana experienced another major flood; The most devastating flood in the history of our country. All the other parts of the country were seriously affected, except for the east coast of Demerara and Georgetown. We are now building similar structures in regions six, five and two. These are “mega” projects that require large -scale investments. An investment in this sector is an investment in the infrastructure of this country, “he added.

He also said that if the machines are given to the NDCS, they will be managed and maintained by the NDIA, because the NDCS may not have the capacity to finance the maintenance of the machines.

The most recent support beneficiaries are Cane Grove NDC, Unity / Vereeniging NDC, my Rest / Reconnaissance NDC and NDC Beterwagting / Triumph. Each NDC will now have to develop a work plan to guide the maintenance of internal drainage systems in their communities, while NDIA will focus on maintaining the main channels and other major drainage and irrigation infrastructures.

Minister Mustapha said that before the end of the year, all local government authorities in Guyana will have a mini-excavator to carry out internal drainage systems in communities. (Ministry of Agriculture)