Adding to the controversy surrounding the $820 million contract for the supply of 14 flood relief pumps from the Indian firm Surendra Engineering, Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy yesterday revealed that the recently commissioned pump at Patentia was in fact not one of the 14.
Ramsammy made this disclosure before the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources during the Agriculture Ministry’s appearance.
When the $265 million pump was commissioned at the end of June it was thought to be one of the eight fixed ones catered for under a 2011 deal financed by India. Ramsammy said during the committee meeting yesterday that “The one at Patentia was bought from the same company that supplied the Surendra pump,”