Agri Ministry signs multimillion dollar pact with several firms

THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE SINGNED CONTRACTS TO THE TUNE OF
SOME $474M to procure equipment, and retrofit and rehabilitate a wide range of its services
according to a press statement.
The ministry’s statement said Pacific Service System signed a contract valued $20.9M to
retrofit and rehabilitate the New Guyana Marketing Corporation’s (New GMC) packaging
facility in Parika, Essequibo Islands/West Demerara (Region Three). This three-month
project is scheduled to commence next Monday.
The release said 3D Construction also signed a $5.5M contract with New GMC to retrofit the
peanut butter processing facility in St. Ignatius, Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo (Region
Nine).
The release said a $3,9M contract was also signed with Umami to supply and deliver
preservatives.
Meditron secured a $4.3M contract to build a solar dryer at the GMC facility; Grimmond
Electrical and Transportation Services also inked a $2.5M deal with the agriculture ministry,
according to its statement.
It said Triple ‘A’ Construction Services and Supplies will retrofit the processing facility at
Hope Coconut Industries Limited to the tune of some $8.9M, and it will do similar works on
the packaging and processing facility Watooka, Upper Demerara/Berbice (Region Ten) under
a $9.6M agreement.

General Manager for the New GMC (right) signs a contract with a company for
rehabilitation works[/caption]

Meanwhile, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) signed three contracts totalling
$356.5M with Guyana Tractor and Equipment Limited to supply and deliver of nine long-
reach (track type) hydraulic excavators; one short reach (track type) hydraulic excavator, and
one short reach (wheel type) hydraulic excavator.
These will be used to rehabilitate the drainage and irrigation (D&I) channels in all
GUYSUCO estates, including those running through residential communities. The contracts
also cater to rebuild the perimeter dam of the Albion Estate in East Berbice/Corentyne
(Region Six).
The three excavators will also be used to maintain key infrastructure such as dams, bridges
and aqueducts, essential for field operations.

The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) also inked a $12.1M contract with JR
Engineering Solutions totalling to rehabilitate the soil laboratory at the Burma Rice Research
Station in Mahaica/Berbice (Region Five).
The refurbished facility will enable researchers to provide sound recommendations to farmers
on the type and quantity of fertilisers needed for their crops to help the country double rice
production by 2025.
The Hydromet Department also signed two contracts with Rushmar Business Enterprise and
General Services totalling $23.5M for transportation services.
And the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) signed two contracts: one for
$6.3M with Innovative Engineering Consultancy Services to provide consultancy services for
the supervision of the Onverwagt Farm to Market Road in Region Five.
The ministry’s release said the second contract, $20.6M was signed with Eron Lall
Engineering Works for the construction of living quarters at (Lama? Kindly get the full
name) within the East Demerara Water Conservancy.
“We are advancing in our work programme because we are approaching the end of 2021. In
this sector, we have been seeing a lot of activities being undertaken…and a lot of people are
once again involved in agriculture in Guyana. This is why those companies that are signing
contracts must provide efficient services in a timely manner,” Agriculture Minister Zulfikar
Mustapha said.
Zulfikar reminded during this year’s budget, he spoke of the need for the equipment for
GUYSUCO to ensure the sweetener industry fulfil its mandate.
“When I spoke at this year’s budget debate, I spoke about the importance of these and other
equipment as we move towards the reopening of the closed estates and the recapitalisation of
GUYSUCO,” the minister reiterated
On the issue of rehabilitation and retrofitting of the agro-processing facilities, Mustapha said
“as a government, we are putting a lot of effort and emphasis into agro-processing. We
recognise the importance of building, rehabilitating, and retrofitting new and existing agro-
processing facilities. We want our farmers to advance their style of production and move to a
higher level. If we are going to tap into new markets in the Caribbean, then these types of
facilities will be critical.”

Contractors are not only providing a service to the agriculture ministry, but also to the
citizens of Guyana.
“Therefore, the works and services should be done in a timely manner and according to
the contract specifications,” Minister Mustapha emphasised.