to strengthen drainage infrastructure

MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag, and Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, handed over six mini-excavators to six Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) on the East Bank of Demerara, Region Four.

This $96 million investment aims to enhance the operations of these Local Democratic Organs, particularly in the clearing and maintenance of drainage and outfall channels under their jurisdiction.

President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo have pledged to ensure that every NDC is fully equipped to address community issues efficiently. Minister Parag noted that, soon, all NDCs would also receive their own garbage compactor trucks. This initiative complements the deployment of mini-fire response vehicles, which will be operated by a small but well-trained fire brigade.

Minister Mustapha emphasised that this effort forms part of the Government’s broader strategy to modernise and strengthen the country’s drainage infrastructure. The initiative is designed to enhance resilience against flooding, safeguard crops, and prevent avoidable losses for farmers.

The six NDCs benefitting from the equipment handover were Eccles/Ramsburg, Mocha/Arcadia, Little Diamond/Herstelling, Soesdyke/Hui’s Te/Coverden, and Hauraruni/Yarrowkabra. The Government remains committed to providing local governing bodies with the necessary resources to improve service delivery and infrastructure maintenance within their communities.