The closure of the Wales sugar estate will see the maintenance of drainage and irrigation systems in the Patentia/Wales area becoming the responsibility of central government. These works were previously done by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).
This is according to Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, in response to questions raised by opposition MP Irfaan Ali in relation to the budget allocation for Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara).
Under line item 6253: Maintenance of drainage and irrigation works within the current expenditure of the agriculture programme, this region saw an increase in allocation from $134 million in 2015 to $165 million in 2016.
Ali asked that Bulkan explain whether the communities of Hubu Backdam, Ruby and Naamryck were catered for in this allocation and whether there were provisions within the budgeted amount to offer assistance to rice farmers affected by the present drought conditions.
Bulkan replied that the named communities were budgeted for. He also explained that there currently exists within the region a committee of stakeholders, including farmers and local authorities that are benefiting from D&I interventions, collaborating to ensure that relief is brought to these affected farmers.
Ali further questioned whether Hague Backdam will also benefit and called for the minister to provide the specific amount to be expended for each area.
Bulkan said that Hague will be a beneficiary. He also noted that these communities and others will not only benefit from funding under this line item but will be beneficiaries of the allocations of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).
He has promised to provide the specific funding for each area in writing at a later time.
A furore arose when Ali asked the minister not for the list of roads slated to be completed under the capital allocation, but for those roads in the region which were left off the list.
The minister however declared that he preferred to deal with inclusion and not exclusion. He then listed roads in Patentia, Wakenaam, Goed Fortuin and Stewartville as slated for repair.
Ali however would not be deterred and stressed that the minister would have been in receipt of a programme from the Regional Democratic Council which would have been the “people’s programme.”
In ringing tones, which rose on each word, he declared that as the people’s representative he needed to be able to return to the people and tell them why their roads were not included in the government’s programme.
When the speaker attempted to caution him about his volume, Ali loudly maintained that it was “the passion of the people which was flowing through him.”
Bulkan remained unfazed by Ali’s remarks, telling the House that it was his understanding that members could only speak to what provisions have been made not those which were not.
