THE Ministry of Natural Resources, through collaborative efforts, is targeting several developmental and infrastructural projects in the Upper Takutu region, all in an effort to bring relief to residents and to create avenues for them to enjoy equal opportunities, as is provided on the coastland.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, outlined several projects that have been completed and are currently underway in the region. One very important project that is bringing relief to scores of residents, is the Nappi Water Reservoir.

This reservoir is the largest in the country and is a source of water, for particularly farmers who are suffering tremendously, during the current dry spell. It has not rained in Region Nine since August 2018. The reservoir, though located in Nappi, is serving other satellite villages, especially Hiowa and Parashara.

“The Ministry of Natural Resources is very pleased to be working in this region; we have collaborated with residents and others to deliver the Nappi reservoir, which is considered as one of the largest reservoirs in the country of its kind and in this extreme dry season, I can tell you that the residents of Nappi are extremely pleased that there is water,” Trotman said.

In an invited comment, Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock affirmed that some 90 farmers are benefitting from the reservoir. It is a real relief to the farmers and residents who can also use it for domestic purposes. The villages, especially those in the deep South Rupununi, are suffering tremendously from the dry spell. “At the moment, other villages are suffering, all their ponds have dried up,” he related.

Allicock is currently lobbying with the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), for deep wells to be drilled , at least in one village in the deep South. All of the wells are hand dug and are drying up. Residents are forced to dig deeper to source water, which is not sufficient for use.

CHALLENGES
In this dry season, the cassava which is the main crop, cannot reach maturity stage and when they are harvested young, much is not retrieved when processed. In the South, many fruits are falling from trees due to lack of water and cattle have to walk miles to get water to drink. In this regard, Allicock has commended the MNR for stepping in for farmers in Central Rupununi. He related that another reservoir will be done in South Rupununi, in the near future.

While agricultural development may be the main priority, Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sidney Allicock, said that at first the residents were not seeing the bigger picture of what the reservoir will bring. “Now people are able to see the value of it because it [is] a benefit for water, for agriculture and the biggest part is tourism; that is ideal for tourism… it is beautiful for tourism,” Allicock said. He is intrigued about this because his ministry has been giving support, through grants, for tourism development in the villages, especially the traditional villages which he is aiming to transform into tourism destinations. When there are social activities in Lethem, these villages can benefit was well, as their tourism potential will be exploited at that time. Allicock said that with the water reservoir, the fishing industry was also boosted, which speaks to food security.

OTHER PROJECTS
Minister Trotman highlighted several other projects that his ministry has partnered with to execute. These include the rehabilitation of roads in the deep South, to facilitate the drilling of wells, the rehabilitation of the road from Mabura to Lethem; and the construction of a safer road at the Peira turn. While the contract for a new Manari bridge has been awarded, Trotman said his ministry will lend support to the strengthening of the current bridge, in time for the Lethem rodeo. His ministry is also working arduously to provide better mining opportunities for miners in the Rupununi. “Minister Patterson and I are aware of the problems and we are working to fix them, one kilometre and one hectare at a time; we are working on giving you “the good life” that we promised,” Trotman affirmed.