REGION 6 Chairman Mr. David Armogan has expressed concern over the continuous vandalism of heavy-duty vehicles procured to enhance the drainage and irrigation sector in the East Berbice, Corentyne district.

“Our machines are being vandalised! One of our big excavators that would normally clean drainage and irrigation trenches at Sandvoort Village has been vandalised,” he lamented.

“Someone removed the monitor, which costs $700,000. Until today, it is not operable, because we cannot get the parts for it,” Armogan further lamented.

He said the stolen part has to be imported, and would result in implications in terms of finance and time. Additionally, he said, two days ago, persons unknown removed other machine parts from an excavator located at Bengal, Corentyne. The thieves stole the vehicle’s starter, alternator, and batteries, which resulted in a loss amounting to $300,000.

“These machines are there to assist farmers. I don’t know if anyone is not seeing…. Nobody is seeing when these machinery parts are taken away!” he fumed.
“Nobody seemed to see when the machinery is stolen, but they see when the machinery is not doing its work,” Armogan declared.

“We are appealing to persons who are benefiting from the machinery to pay attention, because, overtime, if we continue to get this level of attack we are getting, I don’t think we will have machines in another couple of months,” he lamented.

The chairman noted that there are suggestions that the machinery is being sabotaged.

“Some people are saying that the machinery (is being) sabotaged…. At this period, when we are trying to give a helping hand to farmers…. I wonder if there are elements in the community who are trying to sabotage these machines, so that we cannot effectively deliver these services to our farmers? Armogan mused.

“It is opined that it may be a well-orchestrated attack on these machines, so that mischief can be created,” he concluded.