Spending on pump stations draws scrutiny before 2024 agriculture budget approved

Pump stations are needed all across the coast to help with drainage and irrigation but there was much scrutiny over several ongoing projects as the Parliamentary Committee of Supply met on Wednesday to consider the 2024 budget estimates for the Ministry of Agriculture.

A total sum of $10 billion was set aside for capital spending by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA). This caters for the provision of drainage and irrigation structures, pump stations and payment of retention.

Last year, $6.3 billion was allocated in the 2023 budget for these same expenditures though $15.3 billion was eventually spent.

So when Parliamentarians examined last year’s spending and this year’s allocation on Wednesday, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha was quizzed about ongoing works at several pump stations.

Questioned extensively by Opposition Parliamentarian Ganesh Mahipaul, Minister Mustapha said quite a few of those projects will be completed soon.

At Cottage on the West Bank Berbice, Minister Mustapha said the pump station is about 80% complete and the new completion date is March 30. Meanwhile, at Andrews on the Essequibo Coast, the $528 million project should be completed by the end of February,

He, however, noted that the pump station at Charity on the Essequibo Coast faced “a lot of challenges” but it is now about 25% complete.

Many of these projects have been facing delays, so Mr. Mahipaul suggested that NDIA engineers should design these projects and supervise the construction themselves.

Mustapha, however, said that is not the process followed. According to him, NDIA engineers and the consultants both discuss the projects and agree on the best way forward.

This sum and all other funds catered for under the Ministry of Agriculture’s $51 billion budget were approved without changes by the Committee of Supply.