GOVERNMENT has expended approximately $90M on drainage and irrigation and other works on Hogg Island in the Essequibo River in Region 3. This has been reiterated by Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Ali Baksh, during a visit to the island yesterday.
Baksh assured residents that government would be taking the necessary action to ensure that their needs are fully met. He said that while a lot of work is yet to be done relative to drainage and irigation, the country, and Hogg Island, has made significant progress.
He, nevertheless, was concerned about the condition of several roads, and about the drainage and irrigation sector on the island, even as he told residents that their concerns have been noted, and would be raised at Cabinet level for action.
Burning issues affecting residents included the need for their lands to be surveyed at cheaper cost, better drainage and irrigation infrastructure and services, and need for improvement in several areas, including medical services.
Residents also raised the issue of their acquiring firearms, because they said wild animals are destroying their crops.
Resident Dukram Duke told reporters accompanying Minister Baksh yesterday, that islanders are seeking assistance from government to better themselves and their communities.
“Well, the surveying fee is very high, and if we could get assistance from government or whoever, for the fee to be cheaper…it would be very nice. Some people really don’t know where their boundaries are. We does look for the surveying pales, and when we cut away the bush, we don’t see no pale; so sometimes you might find yourself going way off your boundary, and that does really bring conflict among neighbours.
Duke also called for trained teachers to be placed on the island.
Responding, Minister Ali Baksh assured the residents that all their concerns have been noted and that these will be raised at Cabinet level, this week, in order to bring them speedy relief.
He explained that the water users’ association will be re-established with members from all small islands, who will prioritise how projects will be undertaken.
“We can’t do everything you’re asking for. Tubes: we were doing some calculations, and it would (cost) $3 million, and that’s just for one area… We must come and make some (investigation) to see where we should place the priority on, depending on funds that are available,” Minister Baksh stated.
Since the People’s Progressive Party government took office in 1992, the minister said, a lot has been done to boost the agriculture sector in Guyana.
“When the PPP government took office in 1992, they started to spend a lot of money in every part of our country, in many different areas, including agriculture.
“This is because we know agriculture is the back bone of any country.” He pointed out.The minister declared that, consequently, $6B has been allocated to effecting drainage and irrigation works throughout Guyana.
“Just a few years ago, we spent $116 million to do works in this regard. Once famers can produce more, we can export more, and thus enhance our GDP. I would wish to say we are exporting more now to more than 18 countries,” Baksh enlightened his audience.
Baksh urged the farmers to continue the good job they were doing in relation to agriculture. He explained that Guyana is an agriculture-based economy, and added that the country’s industries continue to develop more in this regard.