GOVERNMENT, committed to maintaining food security and farmers’ livelihoods, has been making huge investments with the aim of bettering drainage and irrigation structures countrywide. Two Region 3 islands, Leguan and Wakenaam, now boast improved drainage with the construction of sluices. These were yesterday commissioned by Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud.
The Waterloo drainage sluice in Leguan is a reinforced concrete structure with a manually operated wooden gate. The sluice, designed to drain 2,000 acres of farmland, which is half the amount of cultivated land in Leguan, was constructed at a cost of $93.4M. Apart from the sluice, the revetment was built leading to the river. The sluice will not only benefit the farmers, but will also drain the housing areas that are affected by the backlands water.
The Noitgedacht sluice, Wakenaam, was constructed at a cost of $16.37M. This outlet will facilitate drainage of over 1000 acres of farmland on the island.
The sluice, which has a self-acting door, was constructed to replace an old structure at the same location that had been non-functional for a number of years.
Wakenaam, Leguan and Hogg Islands are receiving increasing government attention in terms of upgrading drainage and irrigation and sea defence, Minister Persaud said.
Addressing the farmers in Leguan, Minister Persaud said that government has come a very long way in terms of investments for residents’ benefit, and will continue to make additional interventions to deal with the critical needs of  Leguan residents, he said.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), since it came into office, made it clear that the needs of residents in every part of the country will be addressed, Minister Persaud said.
While the previous government had taken a decision to abandon Leguan, the PPP/C has made significant progress with the island’s development, he noted.
The construction and commissioning of the Waterloo sluice is evidence of government’s evenhanded approach to the development of Guyanese, he said.
Government makes no apologies for investing in the country’s farmers, regardless of whether they reside in a PPP/C or PNC area, Minister Persaud said.
The Agriculture Minister noted that while government spends much money to facilitate these projects, it is concerned with getting value for its money and ensuring the projects implemented give the desired results.
“We do not really measure in terms of monetary value, but also in terms of the impact these projects will make on the livelihood of our people,” Minister Persaud said.
Addressing the farmers in Wakenaam, Minister Persaud said that the island has seen its fair share of difficulties, but with government’s interventions, there has been a turnaround in attitude with regard to farming.
“The produce coming from Wakenaam finds itself in North America, and in the Caribbean market,” he said.
The Wakenaam farmers must not underestimate the importance of their agriculture and food produced to the importance of what is taking place nationally, Minister Persaud said.
“Every time our country does well, the entire country benefits…when Wakenaam does well in farming activities, the entire country benefits,” he told the farmers.
For this reason, development must and will come to all regions of Guyana, Minister Persaud said.
The Waterloo sluice will be manned by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), in collaboration with the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in Leguan.
The Ministry of Agriculture is looking at integrating the system so as to accommodate the drainage of more acreage in Leguan.
It is also working to facilitate and implement another drainage project aback of Leguan, Lionel Wordsworth, the NDIA’s Chief Executive Officer said.
The ministry has been steadily supporting the drainage maintenance programme in Leguan, as it has been providing the island with the use of an excavator, and in so doing, facilitating the rehabilitation of a number of drains and canals.
The ministry also assists in the monthly cleaning of the canals on the island.
Region Three’s RDC has also been facilitating several infrastructural developments in Leguan, Regional Chairman Julius Faerber said.
For this year alone, the RDC is spending $36M on the island to upgrade roads, schools and a health centre, he said.
The ministry also has facilitated an excavator in Wakenaam that has completed 25,000 rods of drainage work. (GINA)