Golden Fleece breach…

-new door in the works
THE EXCESSIVE rains over the past week have impacted Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) the most, aggravated in no small measure by the breach of the Golden Fleece conservancy, a main component of the region’s drainage system.
But Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, during a visit to the area yesterday, promised that the conservancy’s integrity would be restored by today with the construction of a new conservancy door.
The breach occurred last Monday evening, and works began early Wednesday to address a solution. The work was contracted out at a cost of between $7M and $8M.

Up to yesterday, works were approximately 95 percent completed, and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is supporting the effort by providing the necessary equipment to do the job, given the urgency of the situation.

According to Minister Persaud, swift action by stakeholders saw a stabilization of the situation, as it assisted in minimizing the impact of the heavy rains which coincided with an unusually high spring tide.
Rainfall measured as much as eight inches in some areas of the country.
Regional Chairman, Mr. Ali Baksh, told the Chronicle that the responses in the Region were made in a timely manner by both the Ministry of Agriculture and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).
“There has not been any significant damage to the agricultural crops, even though we had the worst of it,” he said. Baksh said the rains not only severely tested the Region’s capacity, but also made known its areas of weakness.
He said the Region is in dire need of additional machinery to support the undertakings of the Regional Administration. Their primary need at this point in time is the rehabilitation of the access dams leading to the rice fields to facilitate the continuation of the harvesting that has already commenced.
He lauded the support of the Water Users Association (WUA) for their financial support of some $4M to address the condition of the access dams, but noted that the recent spell of rains have set back whatever progress that has already been made.
Baksh said close to 32,500 acres of agricultural lands that have been put under cultivation  were threatened by the recent excessive rainfall.
The importance of Region Two’s contribution to the country’s coffers was underscored by Minister Persaud, who said that some of the interventions planned for the area include a $20M sluice at La Belle Alliance; placement of a drainage pump facility at Lima; a $10M timber revetment; and purchase of a $50M pontoon to assist in maintaining the Region’s outfall.
Economically, the agriculture sector contributes 35 percent to Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP); 40 percent of export earnings; 30 percent of the country’s workforce and is an important food source for the population.