Money spent, but no work done on McKunda Canal – NDC records show

No 53 Village flooding

Number 53/Union is considered a farming community but the lack of proper draining has put a damper on farming activity in that community.

The McKunda Canal which runs from Number 56 Village to Number 52 Village has not been cleared for years in its entirety even though the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has undertaken work to clear the canal.
The 52/74 Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) has on record been maintaining the canal. However, residents say no maintenance has taken place for the past decade.

In fact, the RDC has been chipping in annually with machines to clear the canal.
However, this was not done since 2017. That year, a decision was taken by the regional administration that the RDC had been spending millions to clear the canal when in fact the NDC had been putting aside money for manual maintenance.
In 2019, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) sent two machines into the area to clear the sections of the canal in time for a visit to the community by former President David Granger who visited for Emancipation Day celebrations.
It was in 2006, that the McKunda Canal was last cleaned by the NDC.
Even though no maintenance had been taking place, the 52/74 NDC said it was bankrupt in 2018.

The NDC collects an average of $11.8 million in property taxes annually in addition to its annual subvention from Central Government. Farmers of Union are now suffering. That village is considered a stronghold of the previous Government. In fact, former President David Granger visited that village twice within the past year.
Saudia Sabass, who cultivates ground provision and vegetables, said she cannot farm or rear livestock because of the water on the land.
“The water has nowhere to run out,” she revealed while noting that her tomato plants have all died.
Meanwhile, poultry farmer Charles Anger noted that the community has been affected by two heavy downpours during the current rainy season.
“This has led to prolonged damage to farmers’ crops. Some people lost their chickens and others lost other cash crops. One guy lost about half an acre of cabbage and lettuce. A couple of nights ago we had another one; and that one – oh boy, forget it,” the elderly man said.
Nella Jhandu a single mother, who works with the 52/74 NDC, explained that all of her fouls have died.
“Laying hens, all the nest that I had the fowls setting on floating in the foul pen. The ducks I carry them by my cousin.”
She said her son killed an alligator in the trench in front of her home on Saturday as he tried to remove some of the vegetation which had taken over the waterway.
Her bathroom, which is situated outside, had more than six inches of water on Sunday.
“Is yard toilet I have, I can’t use it right now. Ah got to leave and go till by my cousin at the back because it isn’t healthy.”
The water from the outhouse has contaminated the water covering her yard, which the piglets are forced to sleep in.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who visited the canal on Sunday has expressed alarm at the state of the canal. (G2)