THE first set of pumps which are expected to boost the local drainage system have been packed in containers and will be shipped from Miami shortly.

This was disclosed by Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, in a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle. According to him, the first six pumps to be shipped are the mobile pumps which have been tested and the results verified by the ministry’s engineers. “The test results of those pumps have arrived and the technical people are going to review those test results one more time,” he disclosed. He explained that the engineers were present at the actual test but now the findings have been documented. The minister pointed out that while the pumps are being fabricated by an Indian company, the final stages of fabrication were done in Miami in the United States (US). He added that the deadline for shipment out of Miami is the first week of December, noting that shipment will take place as scheduled and the pumps should arrive in Guyana within the next few weeks. In addition to the six mobile pumps, he highlighted that there are also eight fixed pumps which are being fabricated in India. “Our engineers should be going to India very shortly. They have already extended that invitation for us to go to verify that the final product is meeting the contract specifications,” he stated. Ramsammy further related that the contractors themselves have made some recommendations on the specifications which the engineers will have to examine and decide on. Nevertheless, he declared that this stage should be completed shortly and shipment of the fixed pumps should begin towards the end of January for arrival in Guyana by March. “But this will all arrive in the country within the contract time. In the meantime, we have work to do to prepare the sites,” he commented. He also pointed out that over the last several weeks the ministry has been advertising for tenders for the construction of pump stations in the various locations across Guyana to place the pumps. In the meantime, he noted, they are evaluating the sites because there might be sites that don’t require the big fixed pumps. However, he said that in those situations, they would still place a pump but using one of the mobile pumps as a fixed pump that is going to be permanently situated in that area. According to the minister, some of the areas where the pumps will be placed include Black Bush Polder, Paradise, Albion, Crabwood Creek and Pine Grove in Mahaicony. The mobile pumps and fixed pumps are together being acquired through a line of credit from India at a value of US$4 million.