Residents of the flood-hit Joe Hook and Grass Hook areas in the Mahaica Creek have been promised assistance by government to remove their houses when they are ready to occupy their lots at Hope.
The residents made the request yesterday for a pontoon to be available to transport their houses when Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and a team visited the area.
The minister told the residents that a barge would be rented to transport the 10 houses that are mostly affected.
The house lots were provided to the residents at Hope, East Coast Demerara, earlier this year after they were hit by severe flooding in 2005-2006. But residents said they keep losing their crops to flooding and are unable to save the money to relocate.
Persaud said residents who choose to remain would be at risk, especially in the rainy season as the area is “vulnerable.” He told residents that it is not feasible for them to continue planting there.
He also said it is not economical to spend money on drainage in the area because of the amount of rainfall. But he said, once the rain eases he would send an excavator to build up the low spots.
Residents said they were willing to move but they also needed land at Hope to continue farming as well as assistance to rebuild. The minister promised he would “speak to the management of Hope Estate to see if land is available
