Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 16, 2009 News
KN stands by report
The Ministry of Agriculture has responded to an article published in the Saturday August 15 edition of this newspaper, captioned; “Minister Persaud backpedals on agri inspections, abandons media team; contractor seeks to frustrate Kaieteur News.”
In a statement issued to the media yesterday, the Ministry claimed that Kaieteur News is on a campaign to ‘go after the Minister of Agriculture.’
On August 6, 2009, Minister Persaud committed to take members of the media on a thorough inspection of the $1.1 billion investment on drainage and irrigation works being conducted countrywide.
This publication has on record, the Minister stating that he will be with the media ‘if it is until midnight’ to complete the inspection of all these projects, which extends from Bonasika Creek in the Essequibo River and Crabwood Creek on the Corentyne Coast.
However, in the press statement issued yesterday, the Agriculture Ministry is now claiming that Minister Persaud was not scheduled to be present with the team during the entire visit.
More than half of the media team opted out after visits to eight D & I works.
Those included the state owned media, who only did so when they suspected that Minister Persaud would no longer stay during the entire duration of the visit and when the offer was made by Persaud for those who wanted to leave.
In fact, a Kaieteur News reporter overheard the Communications Officer from GINA, saying that ‘I’m no longer staying, because Minister Persaud is not gonna stay, so what sense would it make for me to be here?”
The Kaieteur News reporters urged for the inspection visits to be terminated only because their reporters realised that a clear attempt was being made by the Ministry officials to frustrate the process by allowing the reporters to walk in and out of a mile and a half from the Philadelphia back dam when it was clearly evident that a vehicle could have driven in the dam.
This aspect was not addressed by the Ministry of Agriculture in its press statement.
The Ministry also failed to address the issue where instructions were given to the ranger of the Parika Water Users Association not to assist any Kaieteur News reporter with transportation out of the back dam.
This instruction was given by Rovin Bookmohan, an engineer working with contractor, Roopan Ramotar, popularly called ‘Fowlcock’ who is responsible for constructing several of the structures.
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