Berbicians propose all-weather road to Canje Creek - over 8000 families to benefit

Berbicians propose all-weather road to Canje Creek – over 8000 families to benefit

Oct 04, 2016 News

Minister Holder receives the proposal from the Prime Minister’s Representative in Berbice, Gobin Harbhajan, in the presence of other stakeholders

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder yesterday accepted a proposal to begin discussions for the construction of an all-weather road from #58/59 Villages to Canje Creek, in East Berbice.
Upon completion of the $900M project, more than 8000 families will benefit from the project which offers better access to farm lands in the Berbice area.
The proposal was made by the Berbice Regional Representative, Office of the Prime Minister, Gobin Harbhajan.
The Region Six Chairman, David Armogan, also lauded the benefits of the project adding that access to lands is one of the factors hindering further agricultural development in the region.
Speaking afterwards, Harbhajan explained that in 2006, the former President of the Upper Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Industry, David Subnauth, brought the idea of an all-weather road from the public road to the Canje Creek but the proposal went nowhere.
“In 2015 when the Coalition government came into power I decided to rekindle this idea which I know would receive the focus it deserved. I then discussed the idea of this project with the owners of Nand Persaud and Company Limited who agreed that the construction of this road will make a vast amount of scarce lands available to farmers,” Harbhajan said.
Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder, said that such collaboration is needed to fully unlock the potential of the agriculture sector in the Region.
“Such a project will have a direct effect on the economic growth of the Region and seeks to provide a better livelihood for farmers and their families.” Minister Holder said.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, such a project will significantly boost production in the ancient county since agriculture is the backbone of the region’s economy.
A series of meetings were held with over 20 farmers, other stakeholders and the CEO of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, Freddy Flatts.
Harbhajan, the Ministry disclosed, engaged the help of NDIA engineers to design the plans for the construction of the all-weather road.
The team from NDIA will be working with the Lands and Surveys department of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to get the project on the way.
It was pointed out by Harbhajan that lands previously cultivated have been abandoned due to the deplorable state of the existing mud dam. Additionally, the area will not only see the cultivation of rice, but other crops including coconuts, provisions and citrus fruits. Processing plants will also be constructed in the two industrial sites earmarked.
The $900M investment will also pave the way for additional rice lands to be brought under cultivation. The next phase of the project will see the team engaging the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, after which the proposal will be sent to Cabinet for approval.
The team comprised Harbhajan, Lakhram Singh, Vice Chairman Works Committee of No. 52-74 NDC; Mohindra Persaud of Nand Persaud and Company, Ramlagan Singh, Farmer and Member of the Rice Producers Association (RPA) and Haseef Yusuf, RDC councillor and Public Relations Officer, Nand Persaud and Company Limited.

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