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Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn, and a team comprising senior engineers from the Ministry of Public Works and Communication, recently visited the Essequibo island of Leguan and interacted with rice millers. Some of the concerns raised by millers  were the condition of the road which they use to transport their crops; the unavailability of efficient transportation to move  crops to and from Georgetown; losses they suffer at spring tide; and the desilting of the drainage system to improve drainage and irrigation on their farmlands.
Minister Benn, in response to these issues told them that with regard to the use of the smaller ferry vessels, the recent fire at the Transport and Harbours bond was a major setback as parts and machinery were lost.
He said that with the three boats now available, the operation of the vessels will be scheduled so as to accommodate transporting the soon-to-be-harvested rice crop to Georgetown.
Recently, a $93.4M drainage sluice was commissioned in Waterloo, which is designed to drain 2,000 acres of farmlands, or half the amount of cultivated land in Leguan. The sluice will benefit the farmers and will be used to drain the housing areas affected by the backlands water. Apart from the sluice, the revetment was built leading to the river.
Therefore with rehabilitation works executed at the Cane Garden embankment, residents, mostly farmers, will no longer  be affected by over-topping during the spring tide.
“The construction of the roll on, roll off stellings at Supenaam and Parika… and the anticipated two new ferry vessels from China, before the end of the year… when it all goes into operation, those other vessels will be free to make more ad hoc trips between the Island since the larger vessels would not come to Wakenaam or Leguan,” Minister Benn said.
Rice millers were also given the assurance that the drains will be desilted when the ministry’s excavator arrives on the Island. Machinery will be made available for the grading of the roadways they have to use to transport their crops.
Chief River and Sea Defence Officer, Geoffrey Vaughn, informed millers that preparatory work has already commenced at the Cane Garden embankment, with sandcrete bags being placed along the facing of the embankment; this will serve to avoid over- topping during the spring tide.  Permanent works are expected to commence shortly.
Marcel Mangal, engineer in charge of project works in Leguan, informed the millers that the agricultural roads, particularly the roadsways from Doorn Haag to Uniform, and Enterprise to the Success pump station, will soon undergo rehabilitation.
Minister Benn also took the opportunity, whilst in Leguan to visit a few of the sites where rehabilitation works are being executed and engaged the contractors in dialogue.