A $168.9M sluice was yesterday commissioned by Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud at De Willem, West Coast Demerara and it is expected to boost the operations of the Guyana Sugar Corporation significantly.
A release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said that Guysuco will be the major beneficiary of the project which has been on its capital budget for about seven years.
“This is a direct investment in the sugar industry too. Whilst residential and other farmers around will benefit it will directly impact the sugar industry.
It is testimony to our commitment to agricultural development, ensuring enhanced water management in order to sustain growth and expansion in the sector,” the Minister declared, according to GINA.
Persaud said a study done by Mc Kinsey and Company had found that if the country was to adequately battle climate change in Regions 3, 4 and 5 it would need to expend US$1B. This, he said, is compared to the US$5M spent annually by government.
The minister added that his ministry has over the years been guarding against “crookedness” since it is present.
Giving a background to project, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority Lionel Wordsworth said that the sluice was abandoned in the late 1970s due to structural deterioration
He said this caused areas around the sluice to be breached in 1984 resulting in severe losses to the sugar industry and inconvenience to residents and farmers in the area.
“The readjustment of the network resulted in difficulties for GuySuCo, farmers, and residents of this area. Among them were high water levels and prolonged drainage time which impacted negatively on agricultural activities and building foundations,” Wordsworth said.
GINA said that the contract was signed on August 5, 2008 and will contribute to the long-term development of communities like Meten-Meer-Zorg, De Willem, Zeeburg and Uitvlugt.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were Region Three Chairman Julius Faerber, Head of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) Rt. Colonel, Chabilal Ramsarup, GuySuCo’s, General Man-ager, (Uitvlugt) Ramandan Vinoor, regional officials and farmers.
