Dear Editor,
The NDIA wishes to respond to an article that was published in the Kaieteur News titled “Corruption stinks at the Ministry of Agriculture” dated March 5, 2024. The NDIA has been and continues to be in charge of managing the country’s drainage and irrigation system and takes great pride in doing so. In the letter, the writer accuses the NDIA of procuring pumps from China. I wish to make it unequivocally clear that pumps procured by the NDIA are all done based on specifications necessary to effectively support the country’s D&I needs.
These specifications are given based on mechanical and civil studies of the areas in which the pump will be installed. This process is not done in isolation as specifications comprise recommendations from both the mechanical engineer and a consultant. With that being said, I wish to state that all of the pumps that are currently being procured by NDIA will be evaluated and examined to ensure they satisfy the specifications and criteria stated in the contract documents. All such contracts were procured in accordance with the standard procurement procedure.
These projects are being managed and implemented by consultancy firms that provide the necessary professionals of different disciplines to evaluate various equipment acquired under these projects to ensure compliance with specifications and to oversee onsite testing before any approval is given. Further, pumps for contracts awarded for new pump stations being constructed in areas such as Letter Kenny, Jimbo, Pouderoyen, Meten-Meer-Zorg, and Belle View will now be procured directly by the NDIA from manufacturers. The NDIA has always worked to ensure systems remain in place to maintain an effective and efficient drainage and irrigation system.
Sincerely,
Ilhaam Sugrim,
Mechanical Engineer
NDIA
