THE Ministry of Agriculture has completed 89 percent of drainage works in Buxton, East Coast Demerara, less than two weeks after residents and farmers had complained bitterly to subject Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha.
During the meeting, residents had complained about the need for critical drainage works to be carried out in several areas of the village.
A release from the Ministry on Monday noted that outstanding works are scheduled to commence within the next few days.
According to the release, Chairman of the Buxton/Friendship Grantees Corp Society, Leroy Hamer said that residents are already experiencing relief following the meeting.
“When the minister was here with his team, we asked for the Friendship Middle Walk and the Friendship East and West Sidelines to be cleared. Today I can say that works on the Middle Walk and the East Sideline were completed. The works were done in a timely manner even with the current weather and because of that we have not experienced any flooding, even with the heavy rains that are falling. I want to thank the minister for being a man of his word,” Mr. Hamer was quoted as saying in the release.
Last month, Minister Mustapha also met with residents of Belladrum in Mahaica-Berbice, to listen to some of the issues affecting them. During the meeting, it was disclosed that drainage and irrigation was also a major concern for farmers, the release noted.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, the farmers told the minister that the lack of drainage works in the community over the years was beginning to pose a threat to the health of the young children in the village.
It was noted that Minister Mustapha instructed officials from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to put systems in place to have works carried out on a number of drains and canals in the area.
“In less than seven days, NDIA was able to deploy the requisite resources to commence critical works on the AD 60A main drainage canal, which is over 3.4 miles long,” the release stated.
It was further noted that to date, the NDIA has expended close to $2M to carry out the works in the village and its environs which will assist with drainage and irrigation of over 1000 acres of farm lands.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, Belladrum NDC Chairman, Emile Wilson said that it was a delight to see that the meeting resulted in works being done in such a timely manner.
“I can honestly say I was pleasantly surprised to see works were done. These kinds of things do not happen every day,” Wilson was quoted as saying.
Additionally, President of the Emanuel Foundation, Ivanho Gravesande, during the meeting indicated that there was a need for some shade house materials to assist with the rehabilitation of a shadehouse project in the Golden Fleece area.
It was noted that Minister Mustapha committed to assisting the group with materials and seedlings to resuscitate their shadehouse.
PROGRESS IN NABACALIS
On Thursday last, after meeting with farmers from the village of Nabacalis on the East Coast of Demerara, Minister Mustapha also made good on a promise for the ministry to commence a needs assessment to determine to magnitude of works necessary to bring relief to residents and farmers in the village.
The release noted that following the meeting, a team comprising research and extension officers from the NAREI returned to the village and met with farmers to determine a plan of action as it relates to their cultivation practices and how the agency can assist.
Additionally, an engineer from the NDIA will be meeting with members of the Nabacalis Water Users Association later to develop an assessment report of works to be carried out. Once the assessment is complete, NDIA will commence works to areas in need of critical and urgent drainage works.
