Dear Editor,
I wish to comment on a recent article in the Kaieteur News titled ‘Wismar residents offended by D&I workers’ dated Thursday, January 13, 2010.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) along with the administration of the Community Drainage and Irrigation Project (CDIP) has already launched an investigation into the matter and person/persons found guilty of inappropriate conduct were disciplined. The Regional Co-ordinator along with the foreman for the Poker Street group has already produced a report resulting in the relocation of one of its workers. Investigations are also ongoing with regard to other groups that were involved in similar behaviour.
Appropriate mechanisms have been put in place by NDIA/CDIP to ensure adequate supervision, strict monitoring and control over community drainage and irrigation workers’ groups via foremen and regional co-ordinators. Each group is usually made up of ten to twenty persons supervised by a foreman to ensure that adequate work is done and workers’ conflicts are resolved on the spot.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s NDIA will launch an outreach programme in all villages and NDCs to ensure efficient operation and management of these community drainage and irrigation workers’ groups. Through this mechanism, the useful feedback and information would be garnered which would be used to improve the project. To date, approximately 900 miles of drains are maintained on a monthly basis by this project, thereby improving the drainage capacity in a large number of areas. In concluding, I would urge that community drainage and irrigation workers desist from inappropriate conduct and language when carrying out their duties in communities. Stern disciplinary action would be taken against persons found guilty of misconduct.
Yours faithfully,
Omadatt Chandan
Corporate Secretary
NDIA
