— Agriculture Minister tells House

BETWEEN 2015 and 2020, the then Coalition Government was repeatedly flagged for making a series of questionable purchases, which saw millions, and, in some cases, even billions of taxpayers’ dollars being wasted.

On Tuesday, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, informed the National Assembly of yet another botched purchase detected under his sector. Reports are that, in June 2018, the then A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (AFC) Government purchased a total of 12 pumps which it said were intended to assist with drainage and irrigation and irrigation works across the country.

However, even before the equipment could have been put to use, mechanical problems were detected. After the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government assumed office in August 2020, it was found that the pumps were never fit for drainage and irrigation works. As a matter of fact, the engines are rated for fire pump application, Minister Mustapha said. The expensive pieces of equipment were undersized and could not have been used.

Apollo International Limited was awarded the contract by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to design, supply, install and commission nine fixed and three mobile high-capacity drainage pumps and associated structures and equipment.

The fixed pumps, this newspaper was informed, were installed at Devonshire Castle, Hampton Court, Den Amstel, Nootenzuil, Hope, Rose Hall, and at Mora Point. The three mobile pumps were installed at Ruimveldt North, Sussex Street and Cowan Street.

“They (the APNU+AFC) bought fire engine pumps to pump drain,” Minister Mustapha noted.

Despite the many issues with the pumps, the then APNU+AFC reportedly went ahead to pay the supplier almost 90 per cent of the total contract cost; approximately $2.8 million to be exact. “The Attorney-General is here. He’s now trying to recoup our money, the minister shared.

These revelations were made as Minister Mustapha stood in defence of the $552.9 billion budget presented by the PPP/C Government for 2022.
As Day Two of the interesting debates got underway on Tuesday, former Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, was quick to launch criticisms against the issuance of cash grants to Guyanese. In pinpointing the $7.8 billion flood relief programme, Ramjattan claimed that the assistance was merely an avenue for government to distribute monies to their “friends and supporters”.

Ramjattan’s utterances did not sit well with Minister Mustapha, who spent the first few minutes of his 30-minute presentation to rebut Ramjattan point by point.

The minister went as far as to present to the House, several ‘Thank You’ letters which were sent by persons and communities known to be supporters of the APNU; they include prominent Opposition supporter, Vincent Alexander, who expressed appreciation to the PPP/C for the financial support given to members of the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G).

In highlighting the long list of letters, Minister Mustapha said that he is not offended by Ramjattan’s comments since the facts would reveal that the PPP/C Government has “friends and supporters” in all parts of Guyana. “We love to have friends… all the citizens of Guyana are our friends and families,” Minister Mustapha posited.

He added: “Thousands of farmers in our country were provided with flood relief; that is why we are able to bring back production to a standard.”
The minister informed the National Assembly that already, in excess of 570 villages have received financial flood relief packages.

IMPROVEMENTS
Nonetheless, in continuing his presentation, minister Mustapha delved into defending the proposed allocations outlined in the 2022 budget, including a $6 billion request for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). The minister reminded that after the industry suffered the haphazard closures of four sugar estates by the previous government, it was important that the Dr. Irfaan Ali-led administration work to rebuild and restore the industry and the thousands of livelihoods that were directly affected.

Minister Mustapha said that some of the estates, such as the one at Rose Hall, were significantly affected by the closures and require notable investments to be returned to its former glory.

The Agriculture Minister made clear that despite criticisms from the opposition, closure of the estates were not only abrupt but were uncalled for in the first instance.

Minister Mustapha went further to quote a 2017 assessment report which was commissioned by then President David Granger. The report stated specifically that the estates should not be closed, and that government investments be made to return GuySuCo to its former glory.
Instead, operations were halted and more than 5,000 workers of the industry were hurled on the breadline.

The move was further criticised by the International Labour Organisation of the United Nations, which conducted a comprehensive assessment on the closures. The study found that the closures were uncaring and unconscionable, especially since they created an environment that put thousands at risk for poverty.

With the estates now being rehabilitated to be reopened, Minister Mustapha said that his government will “never abandon our responsibility to the workers of this country”.

The reopening of three of the four estates is being done in phases, according to the minister.

Because of significant dismantling, the Wales Sugar Estate will not be reopened. Rather, the location has been carved out as a developmental zone and is soon expected to house the iconic gas-to-shore project – the multibillion dollar project which will see natural gas from the oil ships offshore Guyana being supplied to a processing plant at Wales, and converted to electricity.