Flood response, $480M farmers’ aid expose holes in Opposition’s neglect claims – Councillor

…describes social media videos as “pure wickedness”

Region Five, Mahaica-Berbice Regional Democratic Councillor Inderjeet Persaud has rejected claims of Government neglect in the Mahaicony River, pointing to drainage works, farmer support and recent flood interventions. Speaking at Thursday’s statutory Regional Democratic Council (RDC) meeting, Persaud accused United States (US) sanctioned and indicted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed of misrepresenting the situation through videos showing residents holding placards and claiming that little or nothing has been done for farmers in the riverine communities.

The councillor said the videos have been appearing on a social media page operated by Mohamed. Persaud, a former teacher and veteran cricket commentator who himself lives in the Mahaicony area, was particularly critical of the message being conveyed. “I see that video as pure wickedness and to take away positive things that the Government has been doing and continues to do in Mahaicony River,” he told the RDC. Persaud said hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on flood-mitigation and drainage and irrigation works in the area, including the cleaning of drains, building of dams, activation of canals and improvements to water management. Persaud acknowledged that flooding remains a problem but argued that those interventions have prevented an already vulnerable riverine area from experiencing far more severe consequences.
“Some have been asking the question, and why still the flooding? Let me tell you, if these interventions were not made, residents in Mahaicony River would have to leave Mahaicony and search for other places to live. They have helped tremendously,” Persaud said. He also turned his attention to rice farmers, pointing to seed paddy, fertiliser and financial assistance provided to the sector. Earlier this year, 1,618 rice farmers in Region Five received more than $480 million through an assistance programme which provided $300 for every bag of paddy sold. That was followed by another support programme under which rice farmers cultivating up to 50 acres qualified for $15,000 per acre, while those cultivating more than 50 acres qualified for $10,000 per acre. More than 1,300 Region Five farmers were verified to benefit. Persaud said the response during the recent flooding also went beyond drainage works. “Medical kits and medical supplies were given to residents in Mahaicony. Food hampers were given to them. Animal health was taken care of,” he told the meeting. Veterinary personnel he said, travelled into the Mahaicony River to visit farms and provide vitamins, medication, molasses and other support. Fish farmers also received attention as rising water threatened ponds and created the possibility of stocks escaping. The councillor also pointed to the presence of senior Government and regional officials during the flooding. President Dr Irfaan Ali visited affected Mahaicony River communities, while excavators, pumps and tractors were deployed as part of the response to improve drainage and assist affected farmers and residents. Persaud said Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and Minister Sonia Parag were among Government officials who visited the area, while representatives of the regional administration and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) were also on the ground. It was against that background that Persaud challenged the suggestion that there had been no Government intervention in the Mahaicony River. The councillor pointed to his own connection to the communities at the centre of the controversy. “Government, PPP/C Government, has never left the people of Mahaicony. That’s an area where I live,” Persaud said. “These are all positive interventions,” he added.