….in Kaieteur News dated March 4, 2011
THE Board of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has taken issue with the mischievous and deceptive comments of the Kaieteur News highlighted in its front-page article dated Friday, March 4, 2011, titled “Another NDIA scandal? $11.7M rehab of new 4ft wide sluice door and clearing of outfall”, which is another example of the newspaper attempting to deceive the public at large. Here are the facts juxtaposed against the misrepresentations: 
1.      Misrepresentation: The sluice picture highlighted on the front-page is not the Coverden sluice as stated in the article. 

Fact: The sluice in the picture is the Caledonia sluice.

2.      Misrepresentation: The article mentions that the Coverden sluice outfall channel would be cleared.
Fact: No such item is included in the scope of works for the project. The scope of works for the project includes removal and installation of new door; clearing and grubbing of the embankment along one dam of Bulai canal, Ferguson canal, Clarke canal, Thomas canal and Sucker canal; cleaning and disposal of material with excavation of Bulai canal, Ferguson canal, Clarke canal, Thomas canal and Sucker canal, totalling 58,000 cubic yards to design specifications; and placing material on the cleared dam to form a new embankment.
3.      Misrepresentation: The article mentions that 500 to 600 feet of canal and bush required clearing.
Fact: 1,730 rods of canals, equivalent to 3.9 miles, would be cleared and excavated, comprising the Bulai, Ferguson, Clark, Thomas and Sucker canals. 
4.      Misrepresentation: There is a misconception being peddled in the article as if the $11.7M only represents the rehabilitation of the door and outfall channel clearing.
Fact: The breakdown is as follows: Preliminaries $550,000; clearing, excavation and new embankment $10,850,000; and rehabilitation of door $350,000, totalling $11,750,000. 

The Board of NDIA wishes to advise that in future only constructive criticisms will be dealt with when they are presented. We remain firmly focused in the execution of our mandate as specified in the Drainage and Irrigation Act, No. 10 of 2004. All that we have done so far and continue to do is solely in the interest of the people of Guyana.