| With millions of dollars at stake, Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, has established a Board of Investigators to ensure the smooth operation and management of Water Users Association (WUA) across the country.The setting up of the board, according to a statement from the Ministry yesterday, is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the WUAs through wider stakeholder participation.Officials yesterday confirmed that over time, millions of dollars were passing through the accounts of the associations, but there were instances where either the monies were misused or squandered, with nothing to show for it.Some WUAs across the country have more than $15M in their bank accounts while others have managed to record a deficit.WUAs were established as a means to allow farmers to actually collect rates,Atlanta Hawks Jerseys, place it into the coffers of the association and then use it to improve drainage and irrigation structures across the country.“The purpose of the board will be to ensure that the WUAs are in conformity with established by-laws and delegation agreement, correct deficiencies, monitor and evaluate WUAs performance, ensuring there is proper accountability and there are no conflicts of interest, advise the WUAs management boards on important issues, make recommendations for the sustainability of the WUAs and make recommendations to the Ministry of Agriculture,” the Ministry stated.Heading the board will be Dindyal Permaul, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture. Also on the board are Dharamkumar Seeraj,Cheap NFL Jerseys Online, General Secretary,Cheap Jerseys From China, Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA), Steve Mangal,Cheap NFL Jerseys, Co-ordinator of the Guyana Agriculture Producers Association (GAPA), a representative from the respective Regional RDC,Cheap Jerseys 2018, a farmer’s representative from the respective area, Deonarine Shiwsankar, Institutional Specialist, Agri Services Development Unit, NDIA Engineer, Lall Piterahaue and Omadatt Chandan, Corporate Secretary, NDIA.The Board’s functions will kick into gear once farmers complain about the functioning of a particular WUA.“The Ministry had seen it fit to conduct these enquiries in the interest of farmers. Following representation to the Ministry, investigations will start at WUAs in Berbice at 52-74, Charity-Zorg-en-Vlygt, Essequibo Coast and Vergeonoegen/Naamryck, West Demerara.”The Ministry urged farmers and interested stakeholders to attend meetings of the Board since it would bring clarity and transparency into the operation of WUAs.This mechanism will be used to empower farmers to manage and operate the drainage and irrigation system in a better way,Aaron Ramsey Arsenal Jersey UK, the Ministry assured.There have been several complaints about the running of some of WUAs, with farmers saying that over time, a chosen few in the hierarchy of the association used the funds to develop drainage structures in some areas while not paying attention to others. This led to losses and the frustration of some farmers. |
