Several pumps without fuel; need for closer monitoring – Region 2 Chairman

By Indrawattie Natram

Several pumps throughout Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are currently without fuel and according to Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt, the pump stations require closer monitoring.

Ramdatt made this disclosure at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) statutory meeting, which was recently held in the boardroom of the RDC at Anna Regina. Addressing the RDC, Ramdatt said he received numerous complaints about several areas experiencing flooding and upon his visits to pump stations, most pumps were left unattended. He also said that fuel for the pumps was not being supplied in a timely manner and, as such, it was having a negative effect on residents.
Ramdatt is of the view that the cost of fuel was a huge investment on the Administration’s part and, as such, there should be proper monitoring at the pump sites. He informed Councillors that several irregularities have been unearthed, especially at the pump stations, and noted some of the pumps were without batteries, while the fuel supplied was mixed with other substances in some instances.
“Fuel investments are huge investments for the Administration; the stations are multimillion-dollar investments, and, as such, persons need to be more responsible,” Ramdatt said. He suggested a security firm be contracted to monitor the pump stations.
The Taymouth Manor pump, he said, has mechanical issues and another pump he visited was out of fuel. He also recommended a more united approach whereby administrative heads take a stronger position as well as enforce disciplinary action against workers who create flaws in the system.
At that time, Coalition Councillor Naitram said that he recently visited the Three Friends Pump Station where he saw the pump operator cleaning the fuel tank. He said upon investigation, he found that the fuel was contaminated with “95 per cent of water”. As such, he called for a thorough investigation into the quality of fuel that is being transported from the Region’s stores to the pump stations. He alleged that often water is mixed with the fuel; hence, the pumps developed mechanical issues owing to the low quality of the fuel.
Councillors also called for a closer monitoring process from when the fuel leaves the RDC compound to the pump stations.