Corruption stinks at Ministry of Agriculture, NDIA

Mar 05, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

Reference is made to “Contracts and Contractors” (KN Mar 2). The situation at the Ministry is much worse than the editorial suggests. Payments are made for works not done, no-show works. Wrong equipment and tools are purchased. For what ends? Some contractors and government functionaries have become extremely wealthy. Some NDIA staff are provided vacations overseas for approving non-working and unsuitable equipment as well as payments for non-performance. They are closing eyes to fraud.

Recently, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture and CEO of NDIA opted not to renew their contracts rather than put signatures to matters they disapproved and would be considered as corruption. They were opposed to approving substandard pumps, unworkable pump stations and making payment for non-existent works. They left the ministry rather than have to face questions from an investigative public on wrong doings at the ministry. Several competent engineers also resigned for same reasons. But some engineers are feted well. Eight went on an all-expense paid vacation to Las Vegas courtesy of a local pump station contractor.

It is reported that a regional engineer who supposed to represent NDIA’s interests is working for a contractor in Region 2; he gets high remuneration. This particular engineer was among those who went on the ten-day holiday in Las Vegas, sponsored by a pump supplier of sub-standard pumps. How is this acceptable to Ministry and the government? Did the Minister and Chair of NDIA approve of the vacation and did he query how the group of engineers was going to Vegas? Why and who was paying for such lavish and expensive trip?

Some pumps recently arrived from China. The specs required for the job should have been American or Indian made. The specs of the arrived pumps have not been met. They will not work. The pump stations, as your editorial and reports in other independent media noted, are already more than a year behind. The station itself is poorly designed and not done by certified engineers. The new CEO and engineers are being pressured to approve the pumps.

At my visit at my sister’s home in Essequibo a few days ago, I saw two pumps being parked at Andrews Village. Villagers told me that the pump station has been under construction for three years. When will it finish?

Would the new CEO of NDIA, new Permanent Secretary, and remaining engineers (not sent on vacation) be strong enough to push back against corruption? Would they hold ground and refuse to succumb to pressure to approve substandard equipment, pumps, and works?

Yours truly,

Rudesh Jodha

corruption, equipment, Ministry of Agriculture, NDIA, Rudesh Jodha

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