Dear Editor,
At Red Lock, which is located about five miles behind Anna Regina, a private individual has been given permission to be involved in fish farming. This project, running into millions of dollars, it has been learnt, is being funded by agencies both local and international. Because of the severe hardships the project would create for many residents, this project should be halted immediately and an investigation be carried out.
1. Thousands of acres of savannah are to be drained into the drainage system used by rice lands. At this moment without this excess water many farmers are losing portions of their crops due to poor drainage. This is killing the young rice plants and causing a heavy infestation of duckweed. When more water is put into the already inadequate system there will be more flooding of rice farmers and residential areas. Hundreds of families will be affected.
2. The savannah which is to be drained acts as a reservoir for the conservancy that supplies water to irrigate rice lands. By draining this water into the sea, hardship would be created for farmers during periods when the rainfall is less than expected. More money would have to be found to pump water. This would turn out to be penny wise and pound foolish as the cost of pumping water is exorbitant.
3. Pomeroon residents would have more cause for complaint as when water is pumped into the Tapakuma Lake it is directly coming from the Pomeroon River through the Arpiako tributary. The more water that is pumped the faster salt water from the Atlamtic would reach to them. In the past they have complained but with more water requirements the complaints would be greater. Seeing that residents in this area have no GWI and depend solely on this water for domestic use they will have to brace themselves for unnecessary suffering.
4. The size of the canal through which this water is to be drained is far too small to accommodate the volume of water. Bottlenecks at various points would be encountered, and the ensuing inundation would be prolonged by many days.
5. At the mouth of this drainage system are housing areas with farmland. These people have crops and livestock and alternative accommodation would have to be found
6. Residents on the western side of Lima Sands use water from the savannah. They will also be affected.
7. At Red Lock there is a powerful bridge built by the British during the construction of the Tapakuma Irrigation Scheme. This bridge is a vital communication link between the coast and many Amerindian communities, Mainstay Lake Resort and Lima Sands. The construction work done so far has revealed significant erosion to the parapet of the canal. With the proximity of the construction to the bridge (less than 10 metres away) the integrity of its foundation is seriously challenged.
8. It would seem as though no proper due diligence has been done on this project, and as such competent and impartial personnel should get involved in this exercise.
Recommendations
1. A pump should be placed to divert this water into the main conservancy so that the water will continue to be used to irrigate rice lands.
2. A proper due diligence should be done so that the facts could be ascertained and correct decisions arrived at. We do not want it to turn out to be an Amaila Falls.
3. There should be local inputs to the project and the way forward should be determined through meaningful consultation.
Far too often we are noticing that the interest of the majority is trampled upon by those who have political and financial power.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)