Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha has dismissed the comments made by Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul about the current state of construction of several pump stations in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).
He said that all three pump stations, A-Line, Pouderoyen and Meten-Meer-Zorg, will be completed by August 4th next year. Specific to Mahipaul’s conclusion that projects across the region were languishing in a “state of abandonment and disrepair”, Mustapha described this as “ludicrous on Mahipaul’s part.”
In a letter in yesterday’s edition of Stabroek News, Mahipaul, who is the APNU+AFC parliamentary representative for Region Three, charged that three pump stations – at A-Line, Pouderoyen and Meten-Meer-Zorg – were in a ‘state of abandonment and disrepair’. Mahipaul, in his letter, did not provide any timelines on his observations that the pump stations were “languish[ing] in a state of abandonment and disrepair”, but Mustapha in his press release said, “The other pump stations [A-Line, Pouderoyen and Meten-Meer-Zorg] – I’ve visited those areas on several other occasions… . So, this narrative that Mr. Mahipaul is trying to push is ridiculous and it seems as though he wants some publicity. As Minister, I’ve visited these areas on previous occasions and I’ve also met with the contractors to discuss the progress of these projects.” The three pump stations combined have a total value of $2.566b.
Referring to the said pump stations, Mustapha said that contrary to Mahipaul’s letter, progress is being made. “At Belle Vue, the contractor has mobilized and already installed a coffer dam. The test piles have also been driven and this project is scheduled to be completed 4th of August, 2025. At Meter-Meer-Zorg, the contractor has commenced mobilization and this project is also scheduled to be completed on the 4th of August, 2025. At Pouderoyen, the contractor has mobilized to the site and has commenced work on the access road which is part of the contract. The procurement of long lead items under the project is also in progress. This project is scheduled to be completed on the 29th July 2025,” Mustapha noted.
The Belle Vue pump station is now at the centre of major controversy as it was awarded to Tepui Inc whose bid did not comply with the evaluation guidelines and had never built such a structure before.
Mahipaul, in his letter, alluded to the Agriculture Minister’s visit to the Canal No. 1 Pump Station as political posturing, “While he made a show of visiting the Canal No. 1 pump station, conveniently ignoring its neighbouring A-Line and Pouderoyen Pump Stations, the truth is clear: projects across the region languish in a state of abandonment and disrepair.” Mustapha said that over the weekend, he along with a team of senior officers from the NDIA, visited the location where the pump station is being constructed in Canal No. 1 after attending several meetings with residents and farmers from Maria’s Lodge, and other surrounding communities in Region Three. “I was in the region for several meetings with farmers and residents and decided to visit the Canal No. 1 pump station… on my way back to Georgetown…, ” the release quoted Mustapha as saying.
