2009 - A record breaking year for mining, a landmark for electricity
Georgetown, GINA, January 4, 2010
Mining during the year improved as a reputable sector, bringing employment to many and contributing to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However the rules and regulations governing the sector were solidified in keeping with Guyana’s pathway to development with the forest being at the centre.
The year marked a turning point for the electricity sector with the Guyana Power and Light’s old image fading into the dark, making way for a new one.
Mining
A record breaking 300,000 ounces of gold was declared for 2009 owing to the efforts of small and medium scale gold miners who continued to be the driving force behind this important revenue generator to the economy.
The year 2009 began on a good note for the gold mining sector. Whereas production targets for gold in 2008 reached 260,000 ounces, at the end of the first quarter gold declarations reached over 78,000 ounces, and 130,220 ounces by the first half of 2009.
Additionally, the royalty contributions were estimated at $497M at the end of the first quarter of the year. Such an amount exceeded projections by 12 percent.
The leaps which the gold mining sector witnessed at such an early part of the year can best be attributed to the high gold prices and influx of miners.
A miner demonstrating the art of batelling for gold.
In 2008 an estimated 25 per cent of export earnings came from gold mining alone. Over the past 10 years, the gold and diamond sector contributed more to the GDP than sugar.
Mining, one of the largest contributors to the country’s GDP occurs in six regions of Guyana, classified as mining districts. These are the North West, Berbice, Cuyuni/Mazaruni, Potaro, Rupununi, and Linden.
Only recently however Guyana Goldfields, a Canadian-based mining exploration company disclosed that a new area located at Aurora along the Cuyuni River in Region Seven holds enough potential to become Guyana’s seventh mining district. The company submitted a preliminary environmental assessment to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) outlining its plans for the development of the mine.
A gold miner using the hydraulic technique.
The project site is sub-divided into three locations; Mad Kiss, Aleck Hill and Rory’s Knoll. The latter is the considered the core of the project site and is where the bulk of the mineralised contents are, pyrite (a common mineral, found in a wide variety of geological formulation from sedimentary deposits) and gold.
Guyana Goldfields recently undertook a CDN$2M investment project that involves sediment sampling, trenching, and drilling.
Omai Gold Mines Limited mine site closed
The year 2009 marked the final chapter in the life of OMAI Gold Mines Limited mine site. The industry which made a 16-year contribution to the gold mining sector was officially handed over to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) in March.
The termination of the mineral agreement and the voluntary relinquishing of the mining licence were sealed following the joint agreement by the Office of the Prime Minister, the GGMC and the EPA in April 2008.
Under the closure accord the company is required to restore the area under a “back to nature” plan however, government requested that this plan be changed to an “after use” approach which would see the retention and further development of internal roads, land, airport, power plant, camp site facilities, and possible invitation of other mining companies to re-evaluate its underground mining possibilities.
From its operations in 2005, the company succeeded in the production of approximately 3.8 million ounces of gold and also spearheaded the first large scale cyanide extraction in 1993.
Improving mining practices
The campaign by the GGMC for miners to be more lawful in their practices has been intensifying as Guyana seeks to maintain its status as a country that respects its natural resources.
More importantly the low carbon course which Guyana has taken requires stricter monitoring and regulation of the sector.
Several stakeholders of the GGMC and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and the mining community held meetings to review the sector for alignment with the revolutionary Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and officials of GGMC and GGDMA at a discussion forum.
Following a meeting with President Bharrat Jagdeo and 20 leading gold and diamond miners a welcoming proposal was made for miners to comply with the following: coordination with the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) before any indiscriminate cutting of trees, prospecting before mining and restoration of mined out areas at the medium-scale level.
It was also agreed that a joint committee would be established to review and elaborate on the proposals, comprising representatives of GGMC, GGDMA and four from the mining sector
Electricity
Introducing prepaid meters
The year began with a promise by the government to reduce technical and commercial losses with the replacement of standard meters with the installation of prepaid meters.
By May the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) company embarked on a prepaid meter installation pilot project targeting sections of Kitty, North Ruimveldt, and Bourda Market and Black Bush Polder in Region Six as the initial beneficiaries.
The company had set out to install about 2,000 meters during the pilot phase which followed a number of community engagements on the new technology. GPL had discussed at many levels, including at press conferences, consultations with residents and in Parliament, its intention to commence the pilot project.
The technology also has a wide range of features such as a built in alarm mechanism, an electricity duration indicator and other services that would update the customer on a timely basis.
A prepaid meter.
The new technology is the latest in prepaid service, and allows customers to carefully manage their electricity, particularly in cases where persons find it difficult to pay an entire month’s bill at one time.
The process was running smoothly until August, when some residents of Festival City took protest action to express their concerns about the integrity of the installation process.
The method of implementation was reviewed and the decision taken to install the new meters on the residences of all directors, executive managers and employees of the GPL board.
By September, GPL reported that some customers had been responding favourably to the installation process which was being offered on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Customer Information System (CIS)
In August the power company began putting systems in place to improve the quality of service to customers and responsiveness to their request with the introduction of a state of the art Customer Information System (CIS) to replace the twenty-year-old billing system.
The new technology which costs US$2.8M is scheduled to come into effect in April 2010 and will ensure data accuracy and integrity and integration of cash receipting.
The project was funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) under the Unserved Areas Electrification Programme (UAEP) as part of the company’s loss reduction investment programme.
In addition, the new system will allow the commercial staff at all eight locations countrywide to have up-to-date information on all GPL’s customers and allow new payments to be immediately credited to customers’ accounts.
New Power Plant
December 4 was a landmark day for the electricity sector and the Demerara County with the commissioning of the 20.7 megawatt Wartsila power plant at Kingston.
The US$27.5M plant, which adds 30% to the generating capacity of the Demerara network, will significantly reduce the incidences of power outages and, according to President Bharrat Jagdeo is part of Government’s plan to catapult Guyana to the next level of growth and development, given that power is an important requisite for economic activity.
The new facility was built with three 6.9MW Wartsila turbine generators, a control room, radiators and a fuel treatment house.
Fuelled with Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) the new plant increased its generation capacity and at the same is time significantly reducing operational costs.
The new Kingston Power plant.
Over the past several years, Government invested US$125M into the power company, as a result, with an additional US$15M invested in fuel subsidies in 2007 and 2008 when the world price for fuel had risen significantly. This ensured that electricity rates remained relatively stable.
The interconnection drive also catered for the power link from Skeldon to the Number 53 substation to the Onverwagt station on the West Coast Berbice.
Moreover, the Kingston plant was interconnected to the Sophia substation via transmission lines that were strung along the Lamaha railway embankment. The initiative was part of a major project to integrate all operating systems. This process however came at the cost of prolonged period of power outages.
Government was given a US$39.6M boost from the Chinese Exim Bank that will be invested by GPL in the interconnection drive.
President Bharrat Jagdeo, CEO, GPL Bharrat Dindyal and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds tour the new Kingston Power plant.
The grant was made a reality, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Guyana Government and the Governor of the China Exim-Bank in September 2008 during President Jagdeo’s visit to China.
The three Wartsila generators inside the new Kingston Power plant.
Upon approval of this proposed project, GPL will develop and expand its transmission and distribution system with the construction of 110 km of single circuit 69 kilovolt sub-stations, the expansion and upgrading of two existing 69/13.8 kilovolt substations and installation of a fiber optic network and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system for tele-marketing and protection.
Rural Electrification
Under the rural electrification programme a pilot project which was done in Wowetta, Region Nine equipped the community with solar power lighting, a community shop, a water pump and a joinery shop.
Wowetta residents with their solar panels.
Lighting was provided for 49 homes, each of which consisted of a solar panels, deep cycle battery, charge controller and a solar powered freezer. The community shop was given freezer, a solar panel with a water pump, and a cassava chopper/grinder
The 49 households were required to repay the cost of the component within 48 months.
Oil exploration continues
CGX Energy Incorporated, the Canadian-based oil and gas exploration company that is in search of petroleum offshore Guyana made a commitment to commence drilling for oil as early as 2010.
The company was given the green light to commence operations uninterrupted, after the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) granted the Maritime Arbitration Award to Guyana in 2007 following the long unsettled border issue with neighbouring Suriname in 2000.
Since then the CGX Energy Incorporated has done a significant degree of work and has gone ahead in its plans to commence drilling.
A CGX Energy Inc oil rig.
In January the company completed shooting of the 1,839 square kilometre, 3D seismic survey on CGX’s 25% Georgetown Petroleum Prospecting Licence (PPL).
A study in June 2000 concluded that Guyana is the second most attractive under-explored basin in the world with a potential of 15.2 billion barrels of oil. Were an oil discovery to be made in the Guyana Basin, production targets would be estimated at 50 million barrels per year which would be equivalent to 140,000 barrels per day.
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President approves promotion of GDF ranks
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in accordance with the Defence Act has announced that Commander-in-Chief, President Bharrat Jagdeo, has approved the promotion of 60 Officers and 423 other ranks effective from January 1, 2010.
Twenty-seven officers and 131 other Ranks were confirmed while 33 officers and 292 other ranks were elevated in rank.
A badging ceremony held today, saw the recently promoted senior officers being decorated with their new badges of rank by Chief-Of-Staff, Commodore, Gary Best, assisted by Colonel General Staff, Colonel Bruce Lovell.
Leading the promotions list, are Captain Coast Guard (ag) J. R Flores and Colonel G. A Lewis, while Lieutenant Colonel (ag) G. A Beaton has been confirmed in his appointment. Majors L. A Fraser, L. A Saul and P. A Arthur have been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (ag).
Three Majors have been confirmed in their rank, while Substantive Captains D. O George, L. H Ramlall, M. A Shahoud and Woman Substantive Captain H. W Peters have been promoted to Majors (ag). Captain C. W Martin has been promoted to Local Major.
Five Captains (ag) are now confirmed in their rank while four Substantive Lieutenants are now Captains (ag).
Nine Lieutenants (ag), including two females, have been promoted to Substantive Lieutenants. Woman Officer Cadet T. Isaacs and Officer Cadet N. Backer have both been promoted to the rank of Substantive Lieutenant, from January 1, 2009. Eleven Second Lieutenants have been promoted to Lieutenants (ag).
Substantive Lieutenants Coast Guard R. O Rampersaud and T. A Cordis have been promoted to Lieutenant Coast Guard (ag).
In the GDF Reserve, Lieutenant Colonels (ag) L. Sobers, T. Stuart and M. Nezamudeen have been confirmed in their rank. Substantive Captain C. Inniss is now a Substantive Major and Lieutenant (ag) and P. Jacobs has been confirmed in his rank. Additionally, six Second Lieutenants, including one female, have been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (ag).
Four hundred and twenty-three other ranks have been promoted. Of this number, 131 have been confirmed in their rank while 292 have been elevated in rank. Heading this list is WO2 C. Flatts who has been elevated to the rank of Warrant Officer (ag) of Class One (WO1). The remaining 289 other ranks were promoted through ranks ranging from Warrant Officers (ag) to Lance Corporal (ag).
In the Coast Guard, one rank was promoted to Senior Petty Officer, four to Leading Ratings, 11 to Leading Ratings (ag), six to Able Ratings. Fourteen were promoted to Able Ratings (ag). Soldiers who are appointed to “Substantive” (Sub) rank have earned their confirmation in that rank.
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Protest action by GPOC staffers highly political- Chairman
Following a protest action staged earlier today at the head office of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC), Chairman of the Corporation, Bishop Juan Edghill held a press conference at the office to inform the public on matters that led to the laying off of several casual recruits.
Bishop Edghill disclosed that the GPOC at its duly constituted statutory meeting held last Thursday, after strong debate, led to a unanimous agreement that the services and duties of casual postal employees (temporary replacements for employees going on maternity or annual leave for a period of 28 days) would come to an end on December 31, 2009.
He said that the management of the Corporation is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring accurate determination the number of vacancies that exist, so that they can be filled with competent and qualified staff. The Corporation also has the task of regularizing casuals who are deemed competent for higher positions.
Edghill said that reports from the finance and human resource departments in December revealed that 130 casuals attached to the Corporation. He said that over time, Post Offices have adopted the tendency to keep casuals even after employees would have retuned from their leave, thereby having two people being paid for the same service.
Currently the system has unauthorized casuals as well as casuals, who are performing duties as postmen and other postal apprentices.
Edghill said that the intent of this action is not to displace anyone but rather, it is being done in recognition of the fact that the Corporation has expended $10M in excess of its budgetary allocation on its wage bill. This action also seeks to address situations where casuals are being paid below what obtains for the job they are asked to function.
Chairman of the Guyana Post Office Corporation, Bishop Juan Edghill, at the press conference.
“We did not want to prejudice, or to hand-pick, or to be selective or discriminatory in any form on which casual should be selected and which casual should go, so the decision across the board is that all casuals who have been laid off, would be eligible to fill any of the vacancies that exist within the Corporation,” Edghill said.
Once approved, the casuals will have to be trained and assessed (requirements outlined by the board) before being given jobs at higher position.
Edghill noted that casuals are not recruited by the central recruitment system; instead they are hired by postmasters in the various areas. He said that if the system is not regularized, persons in the network who are not qualified will be confirmed and promoted without any necessary skills. As such, the Corporation will not be able to provide the required services to the public.
“There is no intent for retrenchment, the issue of staff rationalization and redeployment to ensure the needs of the post office are being properly met, is a work that has been in progress for over a year,” he said.
There has been a special task force that been established comprising of line managers and operation officers to determine the Corporation’s needs.
Edghill said that all of the casuals, who were sent off, have had this information communicated to them by the various area managers, as well as the union that represents the operations of the post office. He said that the protest action that took place was purely political in nature.
“There is no notice to the Corporation of an industrial dispute between the management and the Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union (GPTWU), it was simply done to satisfy someone’s political agenda,” he said.
With regards to a recent money order fraud of $1,050,000, Edghill said that the allegations surrounding this issue are not of theft but negligence in office supervision that resulted in misappropriation of funds.
He said that the board has made a decision that the 21 postmasters and telegraph clerks who were implicated in this matter, would have to repay full sums to the Corporation. As a result, they will not be paid any benefits of be eligible for promotions until the sum have been cleared.
“The GPOC is a State entity but it is not a charity, it’s a Corporation that has to deliver services, we have to pay our own wages, we do not receive money from the consolidated fund. It therefore means that if we do not produce, we cannot pay our staff,” Edghill said.
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Guyana’s tourism product diversified in 2009
- offers wider variety of attractions
A GINA Feature by Rekha Budhna
Guyana’s tourism sector continues to evolve to cater for every individual seeking to relax and have some fun under the sun and in 2009, Destination Guyana, has been the guiding principle behind promotional activities.
Government is committed to nurturing tourism development in Guyana through the implementation of several initiatives that increase and highlight awareness of what the country has to offer. With this heightened sensitization, Guyana is becoming a tourism hot spot for nature tourism as the country has an abundance of unique flora and fauna.
The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce has recorded successes in many areas as Guyana’s tourism product offers visitors an experience that will forever be printed in their memory, an experience filled with supreme beauty which captures the lush fauna and flora, undulating mountains, diverse culture and a people renowned for their hospitality.
Selling Adventure tourism
The 2009 Safari held in March offered adventurers the opportunity to venture into the wilderness, where only a few have dared to explore; into the unknown where nature reigns supreme, where pristine jungle shields diverse, rare fauna and flora, indigenous culture and mysterious happenings.
Adventurers dream of such a place where they can experience that once-in-a-life adventure and the Pakaraima Mountain Safari provided the ideal opportunity for 50 persons who were daring enough to take the journey.
the 2009 safari convoy negotiates the undulating mountainside roads to reach their destination.
Over 20 vehicles, several ATVs and two motor cycles were part of the convoy that began the journey from Georgetown to their destination at Orinduik Falls, Region Eight. The group criss-crossed the hinterlands and touched on Regions Four (Demerara/Mahaica), Eight (Potaro/Siparuni), Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) and Ten (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice).
The 529 mile journey brought them as close as they would ever get to experience indigenous people and their rich culture. The exotic names of villages are a hint to what they behold, and the participants were able to visit about a dozen of these as they journeyed through the breathtaking savannahs and the Pakaraimas. Karasabai, Monkey Mountain, Tipuri, Kato and Orinduik village, at the border between Guyana and Brazil, were among the stops made allowing persons to interact with the Amerindians and sample their way of life.
Thrilling events of the safari that kept the participants in a state of wonderment ranged from travelling through lush, pristine rainforest, across undulating mountains that cover exotic minerals, interacting with the local Patamona people, many of whom still speak their local language and practice their unique culture that has been passed down for centuries.
Guyana has been gaining recognition in its unique nature tourism brand and with international agencies such as the ‘Guide to Latin America 2008’ ranking Guyana among the Top 10 Wild Adventures in Latin America, ‘the Independent’ in UK (February 2008) that rates Guyana among the Five Best Wildlife Retreats in the World and the UK ‘Times Online’ (February 2008) which labels Guyana among the Best Adventure Trips for 2008.
Meanwhile, ‘Exploration Guyana’, a 34-day journey from the source of the Potaro to the Essequibo River, which was undertaken by Charles Montier and local tour guides Rupert Williams and Danny Daniels was successfully concluded in April.
This was the first time in Guyana’s history that such an expedition was recorded and Montier and crew canoed the 140-mile length of the Potaro, overcoming nine waterfalls including the highest waterfall in the world, Kaieteur Falls, 17 significant rapids and trekking through un-chartered jungle.
“It combined the adventure and excitement of an intrepid river journey and also maybe the greatest exploration on the trip was the people on the way. What I loved about it was getting to meet so many of the locals along the way and their help along the journey was essential,” Montier stated.
Montier described it best when he said, “There is something about Guyana that makes you feel that you are doing something more interesting and different than the usual norm of travelling.”
Participants at the Rockstone fish festival proudly display their catch.
Cruising in calm waters
Guyana has increasingly been attracting cruise ships with passengers seeking something extraordinary. In April 203 passengers, 95 percent of whom were British citizens, aboard the ‘Spirit of Adventure’, got the opportunity to explore some of Guyana’s amazing destinations during its one-day stay.
The ship docked in port Georgetown where crew and passengers were greeted by live steel-pan music setting the up-beat trend for the day which saw them going on tours to the Kaieteur National Park, Baganara and Arrowpoint Resorts, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) home to the world-renowned El Dorado Rum, the Steel Pan Heritage Museum founded by Roy Geddes and completing a city tour which also afforded them the opportunity to do some shopping.
Other cruise ships which have visited Guyana include the Minerva II with over 800 tourists, the Clipper Adventurer which had over 100 visitors and the MV Hanseatic.
Come Explore Guyana
Destination Guyana, is a little country on the coast of South America that was showcased to the world with the launch of the new 2009 Explore Guyana magazine under the theme The Amazon Adventure; Experience for yourself.
Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Gerald Gouveia recalled that there was a time in Guyana’s history when tourism was shunned by the Government of the day. However, the present administration is “on-board today and very passionate” about the industry as there is a “great relationship and we are very happy with this that is shared with the stakeholders especially with the Tourism Ministry and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA).”
The scarlet Ibis, found on Guyana’s Atlantic coast
It is also noteworthy that the 100-page magazine is filled with mesmerizing pictures and intriguing articles that were mainly produced locally. It abounds with beautiful pictures of birds, animals, flowers and nature experiences of travellers to some of the country’s exotic destinations.
Birdwatchers’ paradise
New areas have been developed in recent times to include birding which has opened a new horizon for Guyana facilitating a steady flow of visitors. The Ministry in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Guyana Trade and Investment Support (GTIS) programme a birding programme was developed.
“Birding has taken off, a lot of birders came this year (2009) and last year and we expect more and more to come next year (2010),” Minister Prashad said.
Minister Prashad chats with a birdwatcher in the Rupununi
Birding is now one of the main attractions in the sector with visitors from Europe and other parts of the world coming to enjoy the 800 species of birds in Guyana.
Guyana has been featured in birding magazines which have touted the country as one of the best birding tourism destinations in the world.
There are over 800 species of birds in Guyana, 200 species in Georgetown alone. Several international magazines, especially those focused on birding, are touting Guyana as one of the best birding tourism destinations in the world. Guyana is even being compared to Peru.
Reputable agencies such as National Geographic and BBC Wildlife are writing articles on Guyana and the country has been gaining a very positive reputation in Europe and further afield.
Improved air service
Air transportation is vital to the tourism industry and its importance cannot be underscored in the Caribbean Region which is dependent on tourism revenue. Having international carriers express interest in serving the Guyana market is telling, according to Minister Prashad.
Canadian carrier, Skyservice Airlines, returned to the country in June in time for the summer holidays providing direct flights from Toronto to Georgetown.
Additionally, since its arrival in June 2008 Delta Airlines from the United States has remained on the Guyana route and during peak periods has added flights to accommodate the demand.
Canadian carrier, Sky service Airlines on its inaugural flight to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.
Meanwhile, over two dozen staffers of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, were given the opportunity to enhance their customer services skills at a training session organized by the Ministry of Tourism and GTA.
Service agents from various departments such as Customs & Immigration, Air Traffic Control, Security and airline staff participated in the training which enables them to become more hospitable to those whom they come into contact with on a daily basis.
Promoting unique village days, regattas, expos
The Santa Rosa Recreational Centre in Moruca, Region One was a hive of activity as people from various regions and neighbouring villages joined in celebrating the 5th Moruca Expo.
Moruca Day as it is popularly known is an annual event that attracts a huge crowd. It is marked by a number of activities and cultural events. Over 4000 people attended the event which provided the residents of Moruca and its neighbouring communities the opportunity to promote the area’s domestic tourism while boosting their economic earnings. Various sporting activities saw participation from both young and old. .
One of the new resorts in the Rupununi, the Atta eco-lodge
The first Berbice Regatta at Orealla which was held in collaboration with Corentyne River Tours (Cortours) was held in September.
GuyExpo 2009, held in October under the theme “Promoting business in a low-carbon environment”, saw numerous visitors from countries in the Caribbean, South and North America and provided the opportunity for entrepreneurs to associate themselves with international companies and establishments as well as showcase their skills, talents and creative works. It also allows the consuming public direct contact with producers and provides useful feedback on products on the local market.
New resorts
Accommodation in the far off areas, appealing to tourists to spend days on end exploring Guyana’s natural splendour have prompted the development and expansion of resorts nestled in picturesque communities, between hills and savannahs.
Minister Prashad and couple from the United Kingdom who are serving as volunteer caretakers of the Atta Eco Lodge
The Atta eco tourism lodge, in proximity of the Iwokrama Rainforest Protected area, which is now rehabilitated with eight spacious, rustic rooms that can accommodate 16 persons, is an ideal location for persons desirous of enjoying nature at its best.
Also recently a local company in Berbice, Courtours, established eco-tourist resorts at Orealla and Cow Falls up the Corentyne River to promote tourism in that area.
Picturesque Cow Falls located 139 miles up the Corentyne River which is being promoted as an ideal place to fish.
International recognition
The world economic down-turn significantly affected the tourism sector in the Caribbean with many countries recording a drop in tourist arrivals. However, Guyana’s tourist arrivals for January – October, 2009 have placed the country in the top position above Caribbean countries in a report done for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO).
The figures were quoted in the ‘Outlook for the Global Economy and Caribbean Tourism’ which was done by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company in England. The report places Guyana above other countries with over six percent increase for the period. Jamaica and Cuba recorded under four percent increase while other countries including the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Dominica, Curacao, Martinique, Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands, Belize and St. Lucia recorded significant decreases.
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Agriculture Minister checks on operations of Mibicuri pump
In light of the El Nino conditions that are affecting farmers countrywide with respect to irrigation needs, the Ministry of Agriculture has been working diligently to ensure that there is adequate supply of water to support farming activities.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and a team of officials from his Ministry, accompanied by Regional officials and the Rice Producers Association, today met with engineers currently working at the Mibicuri pump station, Region 6 to ensure that the pump that was repaired on Sunday last is functioning effectively. There were reports of problems at the pump station which resulted in the unit not being able to function.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud inspects the Mibicuri pump which was recently repaired to ensure it is functioning effectively
Minister Persaud while updating media personnel on the matter assured that the unit is currently in working order and is capable of supplying water to farmers across the front and backland areas.
The unit currently utilises 500 gallons fuel per day to pump water to supply water needs, according to Minister Persaud.
He assured that other interventions will be looked at to ensure that works carried out can withstand any impact that the El Nino situation poses.
He urged the Regional Chairman to ensure that there is equity with respect to the pumping of water to farm lands to avoid conflict among farmers.
The Agriculture Minister also used the opportunity to advise farmers that there must be no wastage of water.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud inside the Mibicuri pump station
He noted that they are also responsible for ensuring that the structures and in particular field inlets and outlets are monitored and managed in order to avoid wastage.
Farmers were also advised to desist from tampering with structures and cutting dams as it is an offence and is in breach of the Drainage and Irrigation Act.
During 2009, over 11,000 acres of cane land were under cultivation, and according to Minister Persaud the Ministry is expecting to have the remainder taken up and cultivated in two weeks’ time.
As part of the El Niño emergency assistance programme two pumps were added to complement the existing pump. This was to ensure that works were carried out promptly.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud makes a point during the inspection of the Mibicuri pump
Regional Chairman, Zulfikar Mustapha said that the number one unit which is currently the main irrigation system that supplies Black Bush Polder and surrounding areas faced some challenges. He said that due to the problem facing the station there was a drop in the water level supplied to the affected areas.
The number one unit is back in operation and all water needs for the front and backland areas will be met, the Regional Chairman said.
Irrigation services are provided in Black Bush Polder by the Mibicuri pumping station for about 36,000 acres of rice land and 5,000 acres of cash crops. The Irrigation water is also supplemented by the Canje Creek via the Torani Canal which flows from the Berbice River.
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$500M rehabilitation plan for Black Bush Polder scheme to commence shortly
-Agriculture Minister tells Mibicuri farmers
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud during a visit to Region 6 today met with rice farmers at the Mibicuri community center ground to discuss issues affecting them and to highlight some of Government’s plans for the area during 2010.
The meeting commenced with an update on the situation at the Mibicuri pump station which surrounds irrigation needs. It was then followed by concerns that are currently affecting farmers in the area and which the Agriculture Minister addressed.
Some of the issues highlighted related to irresponsible cattle rearing, cleaning and clearing of rice fields, voucher distributions, seeds and fertilizers and drainage to farm lands.
Minister Persaud while addressing concerns urged farmers to practice water conservation especially during the El Nino situation which is likely to prevail until March.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and Regional Chairman Zulfikar Mustapha address rice farmers
He stressed that farmers should desist from tampering with structures and cutting dams as it is an offence.
Minister Persaud noted that the area under cultivation has increased, and now the system will have to work overtime to ensure that there is adequate irrigation.
“So I am challenging the Water Users Association and farmers to monitor the situation to ensure that the pumps are not turned off and are in proper working condition,” the Minister noted.
Farmers were also urged to cooperate by the Agriculture Minister and to protect their dam.
Minister Persaud noted that the water pumped by the Mibicuri pump station will have to be regulated to ensure that farmers benefit from adequate water supply to their farmlands.
“It is Government’s commitment to ensure that agriculture is promoted in Guyana and that all farmers are satisfied,” the Agriculture Minister noted.
Minister Persaud interacts with rice farmers
Minister Persaud disclosed that within two weeks a massive $500M rehabilitation plan will commence in the Black Bush Polder scheme.
He said that the Ministry will not be tendering the projects to private contractors, but will be doing the work to ensure that projects commence in a timely manner.
The Minister also noted that as part of the package under the rehabilitation programme another drainage structure will be built to ensure effective drainage.
He assured farmers that all canals will be dug in a timely manner but noted that Government will not be doing any work that is not sanctioned by the Ministry’s engineers.
This was in response to queries by some farmers as to whether to dig the front or backland areas first.
A section of farmers during the rice farmers meeting at the Mibicuri Community center ground, Region 6
“Another pump will also be installed in the Black Bush Polder area under the massive rehabilitation programme for the area,” the Minister said.
He noted that $250M will also allocated to cater for extending pastures so that cattle farmers will take better care of their flocks.
“We hope that we will get the support from the cattle farmers. If we want to ensure an enhanced cattle industry, we have to work harder,” Minister Persaud said.
Voucher distribution
Minister Persaud while addressing the issue said that $200M will be spent for the purchase of fertilizer to assist rice farmers.
He noted that the distribution exercise was delayed due to the fact that many farmers were not being honest.
He told the farmers that Government has issued monies to the Guyana Rice Development Board and the Rice Producers Association to verify the process. This is to ensure that affected farmers benefit.
Minister Persaud indicated that anyone found guilty will face the consequences.
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