The newly-completed pump station at Adventure, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six is now operable and set to be commissioned soon.
This is according to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who revealed this during a recent visit to the facility, where he shared details about the pump station’s readiness and its role in improving the region’s drainage system.
The pump station, completed three months ago, awaits only the final installation of a discharge pipe. Minister Mustapha assured that this final component would be completed within two weeks. “If there is any rainfall or excessive water in Black Bush Polder, the pump will become operable to drain the area,” he stated.
“I am very happy this pump is completed now. This will complement our system in Black Bush Polder, where all the major outfalls: Eversham, Number 43, Lesbeholden, and Adventure, will have complementing drainage systems in terms of the outfalls with the pumps,” he revealed.
The pump station was constructed at a cost of approximately $500 million and is part of a broader initiative to enhance drainage across the country. “We have several other pump stations that are about 70 to 90 per cent completed. I hope very shortly we can complete those pump stations too and commission them,” Minister Mustapha noted.
Meanwhile, Minister Mustapha acknowledged delays with some contractors and highlighted measures being taken to ensure the timely completion of projects.
“There are several contractors who are delinquent. We have already started charging liquidated damages on those contracts, and I am hoping that those contracts are completed shortly so we can commission those pump stations,” he said.
He mentioned the termination and re-awarding of certain contracts, such as the Black Bush Polder Frontline pump station, to ensure project completion.
“We have had cause to terminate the Black Bush Polder Frontline pump station contract that was awarded to [a contractor]. That pump station has since been re-awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration,” he revealed.
The commissioning of the Adventure pump station marks a significant step forward in improving the drainage infrastructure.
As Minister Mustapha continues to oversee these critical projects, the region can anticipate enhanced flood management and agricultural productivity, signalling a new era of efficient water management in the area.
