DURING statutory meetings held at the Region 6(East Berbice/Corentyne) Boardroom, Regional Chairman Mr. Permaul Armagon sternly warned farmers who utilise the region’s excavation machinery for private use at the expense of the administration. “I want to send a clear message to farmers who work along with operators to corrupt the system. Any operator who violates the principles will be harshly dealt with,” Armogan declared.
He also disclosed that an operator took the fuel assigned to the region and used the machinery to effect excavation works on the Upper Corentyne, for which he was paid by private farmers. This matter is currently engaging the attention of the police.
Responding to the report of the Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) Committee, which had submitted that a farmer needed assistance with an excavator, Armogan said the council cannot respond to every ‘beck and call’ of the farmers; but instead, a work plan will have to be enforced to determine the areas which are in need of the machinery.
The D&I report further suggested that the agriculture-based Region 6 needed to possess a lowbed, heavy-duty vehicle to transport the excavators whose carriage constantly damages the access dams.