SINCE during the Burnham Administration when Mr Gavin Kennard was the Minister of Agriculture, we the residents of South Essequibo were told of the Government’s plans to implore about 5,500 acres of land for agricultural purposes behind the villages stretching from Supenaam to Adventure, a distance of about nine miles, and although Reid and Malik and Taylor Woodrow did some drainage and irrigation work along the Essequibo Coast and the areas aforementioned, that promise was not kept.About a decade or so ago, this project, now called The Aurora Land Development Project, was discussed at all levels in the Region, and residents living within this area (that is Supenaam to Adventure and also those living elsewhere, but would benefit from this project) were very, very excited about the benefits to be derived from it becoming a reality.

There were a lot of meetings convened by the Regional Administration pertaining to this project, and a lot of groups formed, about 15 in number comprising about 900 persons. Then, sometime in 2006, the then President Mr. Jagdeo, accompanied by Minister Robert Persaud along with senior Ministry and Regional Officials, visited the Aurora Primary School and promised that within six months, this area of land will be available to farmers.
The excitement and expectation grew further. Then, as the years passed by, the anxiety vanished and the silence about this project grew.

I, as one of the Alliance For Change representatives on the Regional Democratic Council asked the question about this project at several Council Meetings, and no answer was given about this long-overdue and promised development made by no less a person than the then Head of State. Then, on April 8, 2011, shortly after Mr Donald Ramotar was either elected or selected to be the Party’s Presidential candidate, residents were invited to another meeting at the Aurora Primary School, the purpose of which was to discuss the said project, and to address us would have been Mr Jagdeo and Mr Robert Persaud and other Senior Ministry Officials.
This time around, the Minister told the gathering of more than 500 persons about the estimated cost of the project, which was tagged at $1.3 billion, and the amount of acreage to be drained and irrigated, and the benefits to be derived. The President at that time on his arrival also endorsed what was already said by Minister Robert Persaud.
Mr Donald Ramotar, after he was introduced to us, spoke briefly about this much-touted project; mention was also made of the Berbice River Bridge, the Skeldon Sugar Factory, the Providence Stadium and inroads the PPP made in the PNC strongholds. At that time, the address sounded like what you would expect to hear at a political meeting. A promise was however made by Mr. Jagdeo that in a matter of two to three weeks, evidence of things happening concerning this project will be seen. That meeting then concluded.
Surprisingly, when we left that meeting, we were none the wiser regarding:-

1. The criteria to be eligible for a portion of land
2. The amount of land to be allocated to each successful applicant
3. The cost of a portion of land per acre
4. The terms of payment
5. The terms and conditions under which the land would be acquired

But after years of promises, we are still in hope and not in despair; we are meekly waiting but we are beginning to murmur. I feel that it’s time a statement regarding the status of this project be made.

A copy of part of this letter first appeared in the letters column of the Stabroek News on Monday, March 19, 2011.

Now, for the benefit of those hundreds of families that would have benefited from this once much-talked-about project, I would like the former Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy or any senior Government official to say as at May 11, 2015, the exact situation as regards this project. And while it is early days yet for the current Administration, the current Minister with responsibility for Agriculture, Mr Noel Holder, can say if there is anything in the file pertaining to this project.

ARCHIE W. CORDIS