By Kimberly Giddings | February 5, 2025
The Industry/Plaisance Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) has received a new mini excavator, which will play a crucial role in improving the community’s drainage system.
The excavator was handed over by Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, in a ceremony held on the East Coast of Demerara.
This move is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to develop a comprehensive national drainage system, particularly in flood-prone regions like the East Coast.
The mini excavator will complement the work of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, focusing on clearing internal drains while the Authority manages larger canals and primary drainage systems.
Residents expressed their gratitude for the addition, noting that it will greatly help in clearing smaller drains and preventing flooding.
Orwin Alleyne, a Ranger with the Industry/Plaisance NDC, and Nichola Bowen, a local resident, both highlighted how timely and beneficial the new excavator is for the community.
Kapil Deo Parsram, a community member, also shared his appreciation, emphasizing that the new equipment will help address drainage backlogs in areas that are difficult for larger excavators to reach.
Minister Mustapha further announced that additional excavators would be distributed to other NDCs along the East Coast of Demerara and in other regions of the country.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance local drainage and irrigation systems, with the goal of improving flood management nationwide.
The government has allocated $73.2 billion in this year’s budget to upgrade and expand the national drainage and irrigation network.