The Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Six, Kim Williams-Stephen, has told Stabroek News that farmers should be advised to plant now since according to her, the Regional Administration is fuelling two Black Bush Polder pumps with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) pledging $10 million in assistance.
Regional Chairman, David Armogan, who sits on the NDIA board, had pleaded the fuel case last week during a board meeting which led to NDIA pledging $10 million to assist the situation.
Initially, Armogan had said he had asked Williams-Stephen to see whether the region could have put up $10 million also to assist the farmers with the fuel issue. However, Armogan has since relayed that Williams-Stephen had told him the region has no money to put up.
However, Williams-Stephen via tele-phone yesterday told Stabroek News that two pumps in Black Bush Polder were functioning with fuel expected to last up to sometime next month. She added, that with NDIA pledging $10 million, she “would not want to say there is a fuel shortage” but rather farmers should be “advised to plant.”
Presently, there are 18,000 acres in Black Bush Polder and 22,000 acres in the frontlands with two of the five pumps in Black Bush Polder in working order.
Williams-Stephen yesterday disclosed that as of Monday there were 110,000 liters of fuel at Black Bush Polder. She said as of last Saturday, three pumps were in operation but now only two pumps are in operation.
According to Williams-Stephen, repair of the pumps falls under the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority and they have since undertaken to repair the three non-functioning pumps at Black Bush Polder.
She explained, that if only two pumps are to continue working then there is fuel to run them up until December 18, but providing that a third pump is repaired and three pumps are then in operation then fuel is available to run the three pumps up until December 12.
In addition, she said, the additional $10 million from NDIA would ensure that there is no fuel crisis.
This issue has been a source of contention in the region recently, with farmers worried about whether the region would have enough fuel to maintain the pumps should they decide to invest their money and go ahead with planting.
Armogan explained, that even when all of the five pumps which are located in Black Bush Polder are functioning, it is sometimes still insufficient and to advise farmers to go ahead and plant with only two pumps working is irresponsible.
However, he is contending that $10 million will only last about two weeks at the most, and especially if the dry season continues, farmers will be thrown into a crisis.
The Regional Chairman declared that if farmers decide to plant, should they suffer any losses due to the shortage of fuel, then the person who advised them to plant should be held accountable.
He opined, that Williams-Stephen does not fully understand the rice industry, as he emphasised the importance for office holders to understand the rice industry so as to be able to make “appropriate decisions.”
He added that while it is not his place to tell farmers whether to go ahead and plant or not, he could provide farmers with the necessary information to enable them to make an informed decision on the way forward.
Meanwhile, Armogan noted, that since he has sat at the helm of the Regional Administration, this is the first time there was such a massive fuel shortage issue.
While acknowledging that the regional budget was slashed this year, Armogan said, there were other projects which were undertaken that may have led to the decrease in fuel.
He said NDIA had placed two machines to work on the East Bank Berbice Area with the region fuelling those machines, and also, there is a machine in the Sandvoort, West Canje Berbice area which has undertaken projects that were not budgeted for.
Armogan iterated, that while he is not against developmental work being carried out, it is important to budget properly for these works instead of undertaking it at any given time and now leaving one industry to suffer.
Furthermore, the chairman disclosed, that he has since written to President David Granger requesting his intervention and assistance in the matter.
Meanwhile, in a separate issue, there have also been reports from contractors, regional officials and residents of Region Six, that fuel is allegedly being transported in jars from gas stations.
One source yesterday alleged, that he is aware that fuel was allegedly collected in jars from the Palmyra gas station.
He suspects that the use of jars is to facilitate the alleged pilfering of fuel which has now led to a shortage.
Another allegation which had recently emerged is that the fuel moved is either allegedly sold or used for private works.
This matter he said is one which needs an immediate and thorough investigation.
Further, Armogan had said he had asked Stephen a while back to provide a report every month on the distribution of fuel but he has never received any such report.
