Officials and parliamentary select committee should return to Hope/Dochfour and speak to residents and farmers

Dear Editor,

There is yet another completion date set for the Hope Canal project and we don’t believe the project would be finished and functional by December 31, 2013.

There was a visit by the CEO of NDIA, the Minister of Agriculture and the Parliamentary Select Committee of Natural Resources to examine this project. Sadly, they didn’t visit the area where the residents and farmers are to speak with them. At no time have any residents or farmers been fully informed or their fears and concerns addressed.

Now that this alternative drainage system is being put in place they will be affected again, since this system will not properly drain the areas where there are farmers and residents. This canal is only to drain water from the East Demerara Water Conservancy, not the Hope/ Dochfour area and the East Coast in general, which is being said all the time by officials.

These areas should be revisited to make contact with residents and farmers, assess the situation and address our fears and concerns.

Yours faithfully,

(Four names and addresses provided)