Says Agriculture Minister
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud has said that, with immediate effect, a list of all civil works contracts being implemented will be published in the national newspapers for farmers, the public and the media to monitor their progress.

“Many of these projects have supervisory forms and you depend on periodic reports from these supervisory forms.

“Sometimes these come in three months late or in three month intervals, depending on the duration, but we believe, in terms of our execution capacity, that we will look at developing immediate feedback,” he pointed out.

He said his ministry has been making copies of these contracts available to farmers’ group, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and citizens, as part of efforts to strengthen monitoring of these structures.

Speaking at a media briefing convened earlier this week at his Regent Street and Vlissengen Road office, Persaud reported that his Deputy Permanent Secretary for Finance will be the contact feedback person.

The public can contact the Ministry of Agriculture through its SMS, hotline or e-mail to post their views.

Persaud is hoping to get the media support in providing the necessary feedback which will ensure the proper implementation of projects under his ministry.

On that point, the minister said, the Sluice at De Willem in Region Three (Essequibo Island/ West Demerara) can be operated if required.

“The engineering consultant, as well as the contractor, has indicated that should there be the need (a build-up of water), the sluice can be operated; because there was no need during the past rainy season, it was not operated,” he explained.

Persaud explained that the reason for not commissioning the structure is deliberate, as it includes the construction of groynes to avoid heavy sedimentation.

Before the design for the groynes was completed, the engineering consultant advised examination of movement of sedimentation outside the mouth of the sluice in order to determine an accurate plan.

According to a report from engineering consultant SRKN Engineering, work on the sluice has been suspended for some time now but not for the reasons advanced by residents close by.

“There is one important component of the sluice that needs to be completed which is presently the main cause for the delay and that is the seaward groynes.

“These groynes require that the sluice be operated for some time, so that the outflow path is established which would assist in the determination of the best location for the groynes.

“As mentioned, the sluice has never been operated because of low rainfall, but it is expected that during the coming year-end rains, this would be necessary and the flow would be established.

“Immediately after, this final design of groynes would be done and construction would start”, the report stated.

In the meantime, it said work on the inlet timber revetment will continue.

The sluice was requested by residents during a visit to the area sometime ago by Persaud, who promptly proceeded with its construction.

Persaud said he has always emphasised the importance of effective and timely implementation of contracts, but generally, the track record has been mixed.

Some contracts, he noted, are completed on time, while others go beyond their deadlines.

“Sometimes we do not clear projects because we still want them to go through the period of defect, so, should there be difficulties, adjustments can be made,” he said.

He noted too that a penalty will be applied in cases of delays or defects, but so far his ministry has had no reason to take such action.

The Ministry of Agriculture has been moving away from hiring contractors by procuring its own equipment to carry out primarily earthen works.