-$89M project to be completed within four months
One of the principal challenges for farmers is the issue of proper access roads for the transport of their produce, and today, the Ministry of Agriculture is providing a solution to this obstacle; in fulfilling a promise made to residents and farmers during a Cabinet outreach on the East Bank of Essequibo on June 2.

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud accompanied by Senior Engineer, Agriculture Sector Development Unit, Frederick Flatts, General Manager, New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), Nizam Hassan and technical officers, witnessed the commencement of remedial works on the Parika/Naamryck road. The project is expected to be completed within four months depending on the weather.
“The road wasn’t part of our original project but, because of the constraints we saw facing farmers and residents we decided to intervene by cutting some of the other projects. We couldn’t wait on the Public Works Ministry which is in charge of roads, since this is a vital project,” Minister Persaud stated while giving brief remarks.
Parika is known for its rich diversity of agricultural produce, a main contributing factor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
According to the Agriculture Minister, farming activities have been increasing in the area over the years and as such, government will continue to expend resources to improve farming activities and to bring about better farming conditions. An appeal was also made to farmers to monitor the projects, since they are the immediate beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, Flatts explained that the area has several designs. Bore holes have been done in some sections between the façade drain and the Parika Back school, where there are some weak sections.
He pointed out that the base of the road is composed of crusher run, and beyond the surface there is earth, as a result of sub-standard work executed by contractors.

“In the sections that are weak we will be taking out all of it, because if we are to      go and put more crusher run on to it in a very short time we would be right back to square one,” he said.
Flatts stated that the commencement of the remedial work is to ensure that the road is accessible at all times.  However, he indicated that there are several heavy-duty trucks traversing sections of the roads that are weak and as such, he is calling on them to desist from so doing, until the sections are completed.
The official contract for the road is from the façade drain to Parika Primary School , but to ensure that there is access through the area, the Ministry will be extending its work between the cross dam and Ruby.
Despite the constraints of resources, government continues to deliver goods and services to the people, especially farming in communities; since it is part of the country’s overarching commitment of delivering an integrated service to citizens.  (GINA)