In response to concerns by residents of Ann’s Grove that the community has been neglected by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), the Public Infrastructure Ministry, following a survey of the area, has assured that infrastructural works are underway.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, last Wednesday and Thursday, the entity’s National Task Force Commission was deployed to conduct site visits to the Grove/Haslington Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and the Community Development Council (CDC), respectively. The visits came following a report in Stabroek News of January 29 on complaints by residents.
While there, the release said, it was observed that the Ann’s Grove east sideline areas had been cleaned.
During the CDC site visit, where its chair, Tracy James, along with residents from the affected communities were present, it was stated that James related that the front land drains had been cleaned by the CDC under a contract with the NDIA, while the backlands were cleaned by farmers.
Furthermore, it was noted that an excavator was being used to clean drains in the backlands and would then make its way to the front lands to finish works.
“Like any rehabilitation works the NDIA had encountered challenges along the way. One such challenge was the encroachment of drainage shoulders to be cleaned both mechanically and manually. For example, the NDC cross drainage south of the old Mahaica canal. Despite the challenges the drain has been cleaned manually,” it was stated.
The ministry’s task force response, followed the article published by this newspaper on January 29, in which the concerns of residents over the state of the communities’ drainage were highlighted.
Stabroek News had received a letter from the Ann’s Grove/Two Friends Farmers Group, which had voiced member’s concerns about the way the cleaning is carried out in the community. The letter stated that between May and December, 2018, the drains and trenches were not cleaned even though payments were made to a contractor.
During the visit to Ann’s Grove, Stabroek News observed a trench being cleared by workers who were contracted by the NDC. The workers said they had commenced cleaning in the community about three weeks prior.
“…The trench deh cleaning but we still getting problems with the water. The water ain’t pulling. We got two kokers and none ain’t working for how much years. This cleaning of this trench is just a part, the main thing what got to be done is them kokers got to fix. We can’t go to the backdam and plant. Rain ain’t falling and people yard flooding,” said a resident, who identified himself as Lesley.
He added that maintenance is also an issue as the two kokers were built some years ago but they were never operational.
