Demerara Water Conservancy not in danger – Minister Persaud
-works to keep it manageable will be maintained

Georgetown, GINA, April 18, 2007

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud has dispelled fears that the below normal level of water in the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) during last month, could have resulted in a major disaster, which would have seen a large percentage of the population being without this essential resource.
            The EDWC provides irrigation services to farmers and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco). Approximately 60 percent of the water is utilized by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to provide water to its customers.

            Persaud was responding to questions during a two-hour meeting held by the members of the Parliamentary Sectorial Committee on Economic Services, on the management of the EDWC.
            More specifically, the Committee tried to ascertain if mismanagement of the EDWC resulted in the low water level.
            The Minister was accompanied by the Chairman of the National Drainage and Irrigation Board (NDIA), Ravi Narine; Engineer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, NDIA, Lionel Wordsworth and Secretary of the EDWC,
Samuel La Fleur.
             People’s National Congress Reform-One Guyana (PNCR-1G) MP, Anthony Vieira probed about the water level in the EDWC hovering around 52.6 GD during the period between February 20 and March 28.
            Vieira pointed to an internal letter written on February 8 by the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco), which was sent to Minister Persaud.
            In that letter, it is stated that Guysuco was concerned about the continued blowing of water of the Lama Conservancy through relief outlets despite the conservancy being well below its design levels.
            However, Minister Persaud said that the letter was a precautionary one, which was considered. He related that the low water value of some 52.6 GD resulted from irrigation and water demands from the conservancy and water conserving measures were in place.
 
            “This is not unusual during this period. In addition, replenishing was supplemented by pumping from the Maduni end. Good management has ensured that there was no shortage of water,” Persaud said.
            He said that the respective levels at any given period were always considered safe and water demand for both rice and sugar and Georgetown was satisfied. 
            “At present the conservancy is replenishing itself and with the advent of the May/June rains the conservancy should have enough water stored to satisfy the upcoming rice and sugar crops. The level of 57.5 GD is targeted to be attained after the advent of the May/June rains of 2007,” Minister Persaud stated.
            Minister Persaud maintained that the conservancy was never at any risk of not providing adequate amount of water and systems are in place for the May/June rains.
            “A level of 57.5 GD is targeted to be attained at the completion of the May/June rains of 2007. This will ensure that irrigation/water supply required will be satisfied until the next rainy period…The management of the EDWC ensured that during the dry month of March, 2007, measures were put in place to ensure that there was enough water stored in the conservancy to supply all water demands for that month,” Minister Persaud explained.