The Ministry of Agriculture’s ASDU on Monday signed a $275M contract to complete major drainage works in Region Six and to boost drainage structures in regions three and four.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release Senior Civil Engineer at the ministry Frederick Flatts signed the contract on Monday which will see work being undertaken in Vergenoegen, Bonasika, Den Asmtel, Vreed-en-Hoop, La Jalousie and the Canals Polder in Region Three, Golden Grove and Victoria in Region Four and Crabwood Creek, Yakusari and Johanna in Region Six.
Flatts said the works will be undertaken by Nabi Constructing Inc and will be supervised by a consultant from CEMCO.
The contractor will be paid $261M and the consultant will be paid $14M for the completion of the 12-month project. The contract includes the rehabilitation of drainage canals and kokers.
To date, 42 of the 72 drainage structures have been rehabilitated in Region Six and the remainder is expected to be completed under the contract. According to Flatts, the ASDU will be working in collaboration with the Water Users Association and farmers to conduct the works.
In addition, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud commissioned a $14.7M drying floor, one of 12 to be built countrywide. “It is also part of a $400M El Nino intervention by President Bharrat Jagdeo, to safeguard farmers’ livelihood,” GINA said.
The commissioning ceremony was held on the lawns of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the National Agricultural Research Institute’s sub-station at Lesbeholden, Black Bush Polder. This initiative is a collaboration between the GRDB and the Rice Producers Association.
