Four contracts totalling $1.164 billion (US$6 million) in value were yesterday signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and two companies for the rehabilitation of Control Structures and Farm-to-Market Roads in various areas in Regions 3, 4 and 6, as part of the Agriculture Support Services Project (ASSP).
The projects will focus primarily on drainage and irrigation works.
BK International was awarded the contracts to complete the rehabilitation of control structures and Farm-to-Market roads, in Vreed-en-Hoop/La Jalousie as well as those in Crabwood Creek. The value of the project at Vreed-en-Hoop /La Jalousie is valued at $202,006,063 and is slated to be completed in a year’s time. The contract for the second project amounts to $308, 697, 103, and is expected to be completed in 15 months.
Two other contracts, which amounted to more than $587 million were awarded to Roopan Ramotar Investment. A contract for the work to be done at Vergenoegen/Bonasika and Dem Amstel/Fellowship valued at $385, 716, 203 was awarded and is expected to be completed in 15 months. The second contract for works to the Golden Grove/ Victoria area is scheduled to be completed in 12 months and is valued at $202, 006,063.
Speaking at the contract signing ceremony yesterday, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud said that the objective of the “ASSP is to raise rural incomes on the coastal plain of Guyana through increasing efficiency of agricultural production. “ He added that this project aims specifically to “rehabilitate D & I structures, organize farmers to operate and maintain these rehabilitated structures, support rice research and support agriculture diversification.”
Persaud said that the “the purpose for the construction and rehabilitation of the structures and roads in the four lots is to improve the efficiency of drainage and irrigation systems and the farm-to-market accesses.” He added that the works done would most likely benefit farmers who he said would be able to reap greater economic benefits which in turn would benefit the nation.
The Agriculture Minister stated that the projects will be supervised internally by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA). He added that tenders were yesterday opened for external supervision of this project and said that this will be awarded shortly. He stressed that these projects will be carefully monitored and challenged the workers to meet the deadlines. Both contractors promised to stick to the deadlines given.
Meanwhile, Persaud said that these four projects are only the initial drainage and irrigation rehabilitation works to be pursued by the Government under this scheme. He said that the ASSP will finance rehabilitation of drainage and irrigation systems in Cane Grove, Black Bush Polder and No. 52-74 Village shortly.
Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette and Region Three Chairman Julius Faerber were present yesterday and both men expressed appreciation for the work that was being done. Both Chairmen called the works necessary since many of the existing structures were old and needed to be repaired.
The ASSP is an initiative jointly financed by the Government and the Inter-American Development Bank. According to Persaud this venture was restructured in 2007 to the tune of US$20 million.
