DAMAGE estimated in millions of dollars was left after fire, suspected to have been started by farmers, destroyed a greenheart revetment and an access bridge over he main canal at La Union and Capoey on the Essequibo Coast. Vice-Chairman of Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Mr. Vishnu Samaroo, who inspected the burnt and damaged revetment and timber overpass, said the suspicion is that the flames were lit by careless farmers on the main canal embankment at Capoey Lake Top.
He said the blaze, which spread quickly because of the dried grass and bush led to the complete destruction of several sections of the structures which were constructed some years ago, by government, through the Region 2 administration’s capital works programme.
Samaroo said the conflagration also consumed part of the revetment near the newly constructed Capoey access bridge.
He warned that farmers should desist from lighting fires on government reserves, especially along the main canal embankment.
At La Union in the cultivation areas (backlands), he inspected a timber bridge that was burnt by another fire suspected to have been set by careless farmers in the area. That provides access to farmers in Capoey and had stood up, despite damage, only to collapse when another fire on the main canal embankment completed its destruction.
Samaroo said it is sad to see the wilful destruction of government property by some farmers and, while the regional administration will investigate these instances, he called on those with information to come forward.
Samaroo, who made an inspection of several other projects under the Region 2 2012 capital programme, said government is investing heavily every year in the Drainage and Irrigation Department to construct new concrete box culverts so farmers can have an efficient D&I network.