President Irfaan Ali on Friday presented five boom sprayers costing $6 million to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Rice Producers’ Association (RPA) to help Region Two’s farmers combat paddy bugs.
During a multi-stakeholder meeting with rice farmers, millers, and residents on the RPA tarmac, held as part of a Cabinet outreach, Ali said the region will be getting machinery that will further boost the agriculture sector.
During his address to the gathering, he also said that an agenda of action will be implemented at the end of the outreach to further address issues affecting residents.
He noted that the meeting was aimed at identifying key priority areas that require investments, particularly in the agriculture sector.
“The five new boom sprayers, the new excavator we dedicated to Region Two, whether it is the building of the drying floor facility, whether it is the support in seed paddy, whether it is the increase in the price you receive, whether the removal of exorbitant of land rates taxes… these are things you elected us for you and we did it,” Ali said.
Ali also announced that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will be spending $46 million to enhance the drainage and irrigation network in the Jacklow and Dredge Creek areas. Farmers at the meeting requested that additional works to be done on the Manakuru Canal at Cozier and immediately the president said that the work will be included under the NDIA plan.
Based on a request made by rice farmers at the meeting, Ali committed to ensuring that provision is made in next year’s budget for a new grader and bulldozer to assist in making dams in the region accessible.
Denis Narine, a farmer from Cozier, had raised the issue that the region has many dams that are inaccessible and therefore called on the president to look into it.
During the discussions, Ali also disclosed that the government is examining the possibility of establishing a fertilizer plant and a call centre as a way of stimulating employment in the region.
He also told residents that over the next two years the government would be seeking to reduce electricity costs by half so that residents can enjoy a better life. He said that as the Chief Servant of the people he would ensure that the quality of life of every Guyanese improves.
Residents complained about the inability to access farm-to-market roads, the need for decentralisation of government services, such as the passport service, human services issues, noise nuisance issues as well as the need for better health care services.
Concerning the decentralisation of government services, Ali said most of the services required internet connectivity and with the liberalization of the telecommunications sector, Region Two will benefit from improved connectivity. He referred to the installation of the fiber optic cable by E- Network which affords high-speed internet in Region Two. He said with the improved connectivity, the services will soon be decentralised.
Rice farmers attending the meeting were satisfied with the outcome of the meeting and commended the move by the President and his Cabinet to meet with them. One such rice farmer was Rupan Ramotar, who thanked Ali for reaching out to the people—something he accused the previous government of not doing. Ramotar said he was pleased with the discussions and all the solutions that were made by the President and his Cabinet.
Also at the meeting were Prime Minister Mark Phillips: Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh; Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd, Minister of Local Government Nigel Dharamlall, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force Brigadier Godfrey Bess, acting Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie and National Security Advisor Captain Gerry Gouveia.
