The project that never was

Jul 01, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
Since during the Burnham administration when Mr. Gavin Kennard was the Minister of Agriculture, we the residents of South Essequibo were told of the Government’s plans to empolder about 5,500 acres of land for agriculture purpose behind the villages stretching from Supenaam to Adventure a distance of about nine miles.
Although Reid and Malik and Taylor Woodrow both did some drainage and irrigation work along the Essequibo Coast and the areas aforementioned, that promise was not kept.
About a decade or so ago this project now called The Aurora Land Development Project was discussed at all levels in the region. Residents living between Supenaam and Adventure and also those living elsewhere, but would benefit from this project, were very excited about the benefits to be derived from it.
There were a lot of meetings convened by the Regional Administration pertaining to this project and a lot of groups formed. There were 15 comprising about nine hundred persons.
Some time in 2006 the then President Mr. Jagdeo accompanied by the Minister Robert Persaud along with senior Ministry and Regional Officials, visited the Aurora Primary School and promised that within six months, this area of land will be available to farmers. The excitement and expectation grew further, then as the years passed by the anxiety vanished and the silence about this project grew.
I, as one of the Alliance for Change representatives on the Regional Democratic Council, asked the question about this project at several Council Meetings and got no answer about this long overdue and promised development made by no less a person than the then Head of State. Then on 8th April, 2011 shortly after Mr. Donald Ramotar was either selected or selected to be the Party’s Presidential candidate, residents were invited to another meeting at the Aurora Primary School, the purpose of which was to discuss the said project.
To address us would have been Mr. Jagdeo and Mr. Robert Persaud and other Senior Ministry Officials. This time around the Minister told the gathering of more than 500 persons about the estimated cost of the project which was tagged at $1.3 billion and the amount of acreage to be drained and irrigated and the benefits to be derived. The President at that time also endorsed what was already said by the Minister Mr. Robert Persaud.
Mr. Donald Ramotar after he was introduced to us as spoke briefly about this much toted project. Mention was also made of the Berbice River Bridge, the Skeldon Sugar Factory, the Providence Stadium and inroads the PP made in the PNC strongholds. At that time the address sounded like what you would expect to hear at a political meeting.
A promise was however made by Mr. Jagdeo that in a matter of two to three weeks evidence of things happening concerning this project will be seen. That meeting then concluded.
Surprisingly when we left that meeting we were none the wiser regarding:- The criteria to be eligible for a portion of land; The amount of land to be allocated to each successful applicant; The cost of a portion of land per acre; The terms of payment; The terms and condition under which the land would be acquired.
But after years of promise we are still in hope and not in despair, we are meekly waiting but we beginning to murmur. I feel that is time a statement regarding the status of this project be made.
I would like the former Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, or any senior Government official, to say as at 11th May, 2015 the exact situation as regards this project, and while it is early day for the current administration the current Minister with responsibility for Agriculture Mr. Noel Holder can say if there is anything in the file pertaining to this project.
Archie W. Cordis.

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