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Persaud now wants comprehensive audit of agri projects

Aug 29, 2009 News

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud has written Auditor General Deodat Sharma requesting his role in carrying out additional comprehensive audits of ongoing projects.
In an August 28 letter to the Auditor General, released to the media, Persaud told Sharma “it is imperative that we get full value from all of our projects if we are to be successful in our thrusts in agricultural development and raising the quality of life of Guyana.”
“We therefore seek your support to obtain the full value of investments made and to ensure that there is continued public confidence and support for the investments being made in the sector,” Persaud stated.
Several weeks ago, Persaud said his Ministry established an internal mechanism to receive feedback from the public on the state of implementation. He added that a list of further projects being implemented was published in the media and copies shared with the respective shareholders for additional monitoring.
Persaud named Frederick Flatts, Senior Engineer, Agriculture Sector Development Unit and Visham Budhoo, Field Auditor of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority as the main liaison to provide requisite information regarding projects being implemented by the Ministry.
Following the revelations in this newspaper as it relates to several contracts awarded for significant sums of money, and their questionable value, Sharma two days ago told Kaieteur News he is gearing to conduct his own investigation.
Sharma said he was gathering up the necessary data on the projects and will conduct on-site verification as soon as possible.
This newspaper revealed after extensive investigation that the general cost associated with a new pump and engine at Stanleytown, as well as the building housing the equipment, was exorbitant. This was verified by alternative sources of the materials.
Another project scrutinised was a $154M sluice at De Willem that was built in the wrong location.
A recent promise by the relevant ministry to take the media on a thorough inspection tour of drainage and irrigation projects totaling an estimated $1.1 billion, turned out to be a damp squib, as it was clear that the efforts by the press to witness the works being executed or that had been completed, were being frustrated.

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