…Agriculture Ministry to assess losses
Newly appointed Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha on Sunday visited flood-affected communities on the Corentyne Coast where residents have suffered heavy losses in cash crops and livestock due the negligence of a koker attendant there on Friday.
Mustapha visited the flood-hit upper Corentyne communities in East Berbice to assess the damages caused by the flash flood and provide relief to the residents. Among the communities visited were Number 53, 57 and 58 Villages. While addressing the residents and the media he noted that upon hearing of the tragedy he immediately asked that two excavators be deployed to the flooded communities to assist in the drainage of the water from the lands into the Atlantic Ocean. Two other excavators will be dispatched to the area by today.
Mustapha, a Berbician himself listened to the many complaints of the residents that mainly had to do with improper drainage and the losses they suffered as a result of the negligence from the local authorities and the sluice operators. This he noted will hopefully be addressed with the formation of a committee that will have representation from the various entities so as to address the concerns of both residents and farmers. “I have also asked that the NDIA, RDC, NDC and the Waters Users to form a committee to look at sluice operators and the operators operating these machines so that we can have a collaborative effort for these working these entities.” Mustapha said it seems there was a breakdown in communication with these bodies. “I will set up back these bodies in all these areas so that they can work cohesively,” the minister assured.
Regarding the losses suffered by the poultry farmer that lost over $4M, the minister said he has instructed his team to assess the claims made by the farmer to see how his ministry can provide some assistance to them. Another farmer and former magistrate Krisendatt Persaud who has a rice mill at #57 Village said his rice and paddy bonds were inundated. Persaud said he is trying to see if he can salvage anything but estimates that the losses will be great. He too was advised that the team will work along with him and see how best the Ministry of Agriculture can provide him some assistance.
Residents of Number 53 / Union Village came out in their numbers also to meet with the team and shared their concerns and the minister also pledged to assist in any way possible while noting that his ministry is for all the people of Guyana. “I think residents were satisfied that we came into these communities, they saw that we tried to put mechanisms in place and this will be the kind of way we will go about doing our work. We will not only sit in the office and send instructions, as a minister I plan to visit all areas that are affected,” Mustapha said. Also present at the outreach were Minister of Local Government Nigel Dharamlall and senior officials from agencies within the Ministry of Agriculture.
