The Ministry of Agriculture is reminding fishermen that it is illegal to moor vessels in front and behind sluice/koker channels as this will impede drainage.
In a press release the ministry said it had received reports via its hotlines that vessels were illegally moored at the Unity, Hope and Greenfield outfalls which impeded the drainage of various communities and led to a backlog of water.
It also said this practise has delayed the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) from executing urgent excavation works at the outfalls.
The NDIA has since sought the assistance of the Guyana Police Force to remove the vessels. The NDIA also encourages the public to report to the police and the ministry, anyone found tampering with the drainage and irrigation (D&I) structures and dams.
At the same time the NDIA is imploring fishermen and the public to cooperate to ensure the efficient functioning of all D&I systems and to report any violations via telephone numbers 227-5049, 223-7291 and 225-8310, 226-6655 and 227-2204.
