IN a response to an article that appeared in the Stabroek News yesterday, the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) rejected the claims of neglect towards  farmers and residents of Region Five. The article appeared under the page-one banner headline in the Stabroek News: ‘West Berbice farmers lose millions in crops – after sea dam breach’ with a strap-line purporting that the farmers have accused the MMA/ADA of neglect.
“As to whether these were the farmers’ words or those of the Stabroek News’ we are not sure. Either way, the normal expectation is that the Editor, or the by-lined reporter, would have checked with the MMA about the matter,” Mr. Aubrey Charles, General Manager of the MMA said in a response debunking the SN article.
“But then again, it just might have been in their (SN) scheme of things to do so; MMA, and it would appear the Ministry of Agriculture, is good game for these negative stories,” Charles stated.
He said even the usual dubious inclusion of “efforts to contact the MMA were unsuccessful”  was not included in the SN article.
“As to the issue of neglect by the MMA, we would like to state categorically that this is not so,” Charles declared.
“We kept the residents and farmers abreast of the situation at all times through the Ministry of Agriculture extension staff in the region and their farmers union – the Guyana Agricultural Producers Association (GAPA), and we are aware that they are alerting those farmers who are likely to be affected,” he said.
He said that a recent press release which had been given wide coverage, including in the Stabroek News, had referred to the issue as the MMA’s major concern. “On top of that, one could imagine the extra work that we have been doing to try and confine the affected areas and drain the system.”
According to Charles, sea defence works are the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Works and not the Ministry of Agriculture or the MMA. “However, as in this extant case, agricultural activity is affected, and it is prudent to cooperate and give assistance to our counterparts of the MoPW in the execution of their works, as we have been doing,” Charles said.
According to the MMA General Manager, when the first signs of this problem surfaced in September, the MMA and the Ministry of Agriculture alerted the MoPW of their concerns and following interactions between the two ministries, a contractor – BK International was engaged to work in the area. “Around October 14, they reported completion of the first set of works and as a result, the intrusion of the salt water into our drainage system had stopped,” Charles said.
But he said the spring tides in early November again caused some damage to the area. “Again, through our Minister, we engaged them: they did more work and at a meeting on November 13th, they reported that the situation was again brought under control,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the December spring tides again caused some difficulties for them, requiring them further work which they have been doing over the last week,” Charles explained.
He said that in fairness to the MoPW, “We must indicate that the current problem area, Brahn to No. 40 Village, is a very high risk area that had major problems before, when the entire dam had to be retired.” He said as to the farmers claiming losses, farmers received help from the Ministry of Agriculture whose officers are constantly advising and assisting them.