A PONTOON, built by Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited (CBCSL) at a cost of $57M, is part of the wider effort to ensure that the country is further equipped to combat flooding. Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy made the disclosure Monday, during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, in which he said it is an addition to acquisitions for alleviating floods, procured by his ministry and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).
He said the vessel will be used to aid in desilting some of the major waterways countrywide.
“As you know, one of[the] main things that affect us is the flow of water out of our main drains through the sluices into the Atlantic Ocean because of silt and, while we are looking at other alternatives to conquer this problem,  the only solution, thus far, has been using the excavator on pontoons to desilt those channels,” Ramsammy said.
He said the overall cost of such a process amounts to over $100M and, at present, there is a pressing need for more such machines, in addition to the two in operation.
Continuing, Ramsammy said: “At one time, we only had one; now we have two working but not enough. Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) deserves to have its own set-up, as well as Regions 4 (Demerara/Mahaica), 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) as well as on the Essequibo Coast. We are building the stock and now we are in a position to supply Essequibo with its own and so the one constructed by Courtney Benn will be deployed permanently there.”
The first pontoon was acquired in 2008 for $40M, while second was procured for $50M, the minister stated, noting that the procuring of the new pontoon is the fulfilment of a promise made by Government to the people of Essequibo.
Minister Ramsammy was present on Tuesday when it was launched to add to the existing fleet which will be used  to dredge outfall channels affected by siltation.
He said his ministry will be seeking more funds to procure another pontoon and increase the fleet to four.