Latest update November 24th, 2024 1:00 AM
Latest News
- Windfall taxes do not violate petroleum contract – T&T Energy Expert
- All oil projects in Guyana performing above expectation in the world’s premier deepwater zone- Exxon CEO tells shareholders
- More than 100 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza in 48 hours
- GECOM to continue discussions on introducing biometrics before engaging stakeholders
- Corentyne fire that killed mother and four children maliciously set – GFS
Defective sluices hurt Essequibo farmers
While the Westbury double door sluice almost collapsed on Sunday, it was however unearthed that five sluices within the Region, namely the Three Friends sluice, Capoey, Adventure, Westbury and another at Onderneeming
The defective sluice on the Essequibo Coast.
are in urgent need of major repairs.
Vice Chairperson, Nandranie Coonjah, said that no materials have been procured to date to effect repairs to the defective sluices.
Coonjah said that over a month now she has been visiting the defective sluice at Westbury and nothing except temporary repairs were done. She said unless monies are released to purchase materials for repairs to be effected on those sluices nothing concrete is being done.
Anthony Mipal, rice farmer and politician who also sat on four committees in the Regional Democratic Council said that should anything go wrong with those defected sluices, Essequibo would be faced with a catastrophe especially at a time when the Spring tide remains in effect coupled with the rainy season.
Mipal added that five sluices are in need of urgent repairs and this issue should no longer be prolonged since 80 percent of Essequibians are farmers.
Mipal argued that drainage is important to the residents of Region Two and for too long they have been complaining and have to wait for things to happen.
A flooded rice field
Meanwhile, rice farmer Prince Holder, reported that some 800 acres of rice lands between Lima and La Belle Alliance on the Essequibo Coast are under water.
Holder explained that what had compounded the issue was the negligence of two pump attendants who failed to show up for duty at the Lima pump over the weekend.
The irate rice farmer said that if the attendants had reported for duty and had put the pump into operation on Saturday, some six inches of water would have receded off the fields.
He however said that the front fields at La Belle Alliance are the most affected.
The pump at Anna Regina was also out of service for days.
Since last week residents at Reliance, Land of Plenty, Richmond, Henrietta and other low lying areas have complained of being affected by flood waters. A team has since visited the Region and the issue relating to defected sluices and proper drainage were addressed. (Yannason Duncan).
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Jagdeo’s idea of transparency
…Peeping Tom kaieteur News- Transparency, as conceived by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, seems to be a peculiar exercise... more
Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Weekend Cartoon
