– project costs $139.5M
THE  Ministry of Agriculture and Courtney Benn Construction Services yesterday signed a contract for the construction of a sluice at Profit in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) aimed at draining an area of 10,200 acres of lands used for rice, livestock and sugar cultivation. The signing took place in the Ministry of Agriculture Boardroom between acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, George Jarvis and Chief Executive of Courtney Benn Construction Services, Courtney Benn.

The cost of the project is $139.5 million and the consultancy supervisory contract is in the amount of $10 million.
The project entails a triple-door sluice to allow drainage of 10,200 acres of lands in the Abary and Berbice block of the MMA scheme.
The duration of the contract works is 12 months but it is hoped that with the efficiency demonstrated by Courtney Benn Construction Services, this time could be shortened to nine months.
Speaking at the signing of the contract, Chief Executive of the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary /Agriculture Development Authority (MMA/ADA), Rudolph Gajraj, said that riverine drainage has always been a problem for the area.
He said the infrastructure for which the contract was signed will address the problem posed by riverine drainage. With the sluice, the area will be discharging excess water to the lower end of the Abary River.
“It is hoped that by the end of next year, we should have good control of the situation in the Mahaicony and Abary. [Also], we should have the benefit of the Northern Relief Canal in a year or two,” he said.
Speaking after the signing, Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, said he was happy to have reached the point of signing.
He said that, the new sluice, together with two others being constructed at Retrieve and at Cottage, will help the area reduce its dependency on the Mahaica and Mahaicony creeks for the drainage of agricultural lands.
According to the Minister, a total of $457 million is being spent on the three sluices, with the Retrieve sluice being slated for completion within three weeks.
“We are watching those areas closely…as a result of the three investments we will improve 44,000 acres of lands. Region Five has the highest concentration of rice and livestock…this money [spent] is well deserved [and] is part of our efforts at adapting to climate change,” the Minister said.
He noted that the structures being constructed will have a higher drainage capacity to cater for the increases in rainfall expected during the La Nina.
“A lot of technical work was done and we had consultations with farmers and stakeholders,”  the Minister said. According to Minister Persaud, sea defence is also a challenge but said that under the Ministry of Public Works and Communications, this is being addressed.
According to the Minister, works on the Northern Relief Channel have stalled due to the rainfall which has made the continuation of the works a challenge. The Minister said that, as the situation improves, the works will recommence.
“We remove the equipment so that we maintain the integrity of the [ground]. We expect some delay. We will restore…when the La Nina ends,” he said. “We have not demobilised completely. There is just limited activity because of the ground conditions,” he said.