The excavators that are supposed to clear the vegetation and silt which has been preventing effective drainage in the Abary River in Region Five should be deployed within two weeks as the machines are currently being used to execute similar works in the Mahaicony River, according to Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha.
In a telephone interview, Mustapha yesterday explained that during the early stages of the flooding, the excavators were deployed to the mouth of the Abary River and engaged in cleaning activities. This the minister explained, aided the increased outflow of water from the river to the Atlantic.
However, he stated that a decision was taken to have the excavators relocated to the Mahaicony River to do clearing works since water levels were higher there. He noted that works there should wrap up soon and the two excavators will then return to the Abary River to clear the river.
He further informed that a pontoon has already been deployed to the river in preparation to start work.
After weeks of heavy rainfall and overtopping from the river, flooding in the farming community has left a trail of devastation for farmers as uncertainty lingers over the state of their livelihoods, with one of their major concerns being access to potable water.
Residents along the Abary River have complained that it is heavily silted all the way to its mouth and this reduces its ability to drain into the Atlantic.
During the minister’s visit to the area last Saturday, rice and cattle farmer Mahase called on the government to urgently fulfil its promise to clear the mouth of the Abary.
The farmer pointed out that if the water is removed from land then they will be in a better position to plan for their future. He said that it has been over a month since they were promised excavators and a pontoon to clear the vegetation but nothing has been done since, and every time he attempted to contact the Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary-Agriculture Development Authority (MMA-ADA), he had been unsuccessful.
“They are showing on TV the MMA scheme is in good shape and is ok but that is not the situation… this is the results of the situation. They are asking farmers to work with them but when farmers complain and tell them what to do they don’t listen. When the ministers come here and you say what is the situation, they whisper in his ears is not so and we suffer,” a visibly frustrated Mahase had said.
He had related that in 2008 he was integral in getting the overgrown vegetation cleared after he took then Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud to get a firsthand look at what was happening.
He explained that during the low tides, the water level in the section of the river leading to the Atlantic is low but water levels at the back remain relatively high. This, he said, is as a result of poor drainage and the river being choked.
“I am not asking for handouts. I don’t need handouts! I want this river to clean so we can get some relief from this water. Is bare promises they giving, the minister coming and say one thing but when he gone is a different story. But is over a month they said this pontoon will come here and we still waiting… this thing serious serious, people losing too much and it is not easy – it is pressure for us. This is [an] emergency [and] if you showing you want to help people do it the right way nah…,” the man had declared as he explained that farmers were counting more losses with each passing day.
