Last Saturday, during a series of meetings with hundreds of residents and farmers from several
villages along the Corentyne Coast, Agriculture Minister, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha said that the
Ministry of Agriculture’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is scheduled to
commence a number of critical drainage works intended to bring relief to flood prone areas.
The minister reminded residents and farmers from #77 Village, Kilcoy/Hampshire, and
Ankerville, Port Mourant, about the billions that have been invested in the region to ensure
residents benefit from critical government services, while noting that a number of projects to
further enhance the standard of living are underway.
Minister Mustapha, while addressing the gathering at Kilcoy/Hampshire, disclosed that the
NDIA will procure 40 mobile drainage pumps by the end of 2025 to better serve flood-prone
agricultural regions.
“One of these pumps will be deployed right here in Kilcoy/Hampshire to strengthen your
drainage infrastructure and provide timely relief during periods of heavy rainfall,” Minister
Mustapha stated.
Meanwhile, at Port Mourant, Minister Mustapha said a drainage improvement programme
specifically targeting the local network of canals and drains is scheduled to commence in the
coming week. He told residents that a long boom excavator and two small excavators will be
deployed to this area to clear the drains and sidelines in this area.
“This programme will commence in one week and should be completed in one month. This is
part of our immediate plan to improve drainage in the community because we know this area is
prone to flooding,” he explained.
As the government continues in its efforts to develop the livestock industry, Minister Mustapha
also announced a collaborative initiative between the Guyana Livestock Development Authority
(GLDA) and Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to identify and develop suitable pasture
lands for cattle rearing.
Minister Mustapha told cattle farmers that the government was investing heavily in infrastructure
and genetic stock to develop the livestock industry for both beef and dairy.
“We are working to develop the livestock industry for both beef and dairy, so we have to work
with you to develop the facilities that will support that growth. I’ve instructed the GLDA to work
along with GuySuCo to identify lands to develop a pasture for your cattle,” Minister Mustapha
explained.
Single parents at Ankerville are also set to benefit from the ministry’s ongoing Black Giant
programme. Minister Mustapha said similar programmes are ongoing across the country, which
will see single mothers receiving Black Giant Chicks and feed from the ministry’s GLDA.
The initiative, He explained, is aimed at increasing income generation for vulnerable households,
especially women.
“This project is about empowering single parents, especially women, by giving them the tools to
earn a sustainable income through small-scale poultry farming. This initiative will allow them to
develop a sustainable business and better provide for their family. It will also help make the
community self-sufficient, thus adding to the government’s overall food security agenda,” he
explained.
Minister Mustapha also told the residents to be vigilant and mindful of persons who will come to
make empty promises ahead of the impending National and Regional Elections that are
scheduled to be held later this year.
He said that President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, and other Ministers of
Government have been meeting with residents across the country every week since assuming
office to ensure voices are heard and government programmes are responsive to the needs of
citizens.
“We are not here for photo opportunities. We are here to listen, to act, and to build with you.
Every visit we make is driven by one goal: to improve your lives, your livelihoods, and your
future,” he noted.
