Dear Editor,

With only the rainfall from last Monday night and during the next day in Region 2, heavy flooding is already threatening the survival of some 100 acres of one-week old paddy plants in a section of rice land at Huis ’t Dieren backdam.

All the affected farmers including me are maintaining that the NDC there cannot be exonerated from blame for the inundation even at the early stage of the incoming rainy season.

For no justifiable reason and an absolute waste of taxpayers’ money, the NDC ‘blocked off’ the southern end of a cross trench by Sanatan dam which was linked to a main drainage trench leading to the nearby Essequibo River.

As an alternative means for the water from the cross trench to subside, two 18-inch bore, self-acting kokers were put in place six weeks ago by a private contractor at a fantastic price, but those were found to be useless.

Much mention is being made now about the kokers being too small and that some underhand move was responsible for doing such a job which serves no useful purpose but just creates a problem so detrimental to the farmers.

Never before in the history of the area was flooding ever experienced as can be seen now, even with torrential rainfall.

All along, the NDC just ignored objections made by the farmers not to interfere with the free flow of the cross trench, as it would inevitably cause flooding with a worsening situation very much imminent from more rainfall. The same result is now facing the NDC whose once and for all remedy to the flooding is to have the kokers removed forthwith.

Rice production is very costly and every precautionary measure needs to be taken to protect farmers from suffering losses at all times.

Yours faithfully,
Abdool Kamal

Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to the Chairman of the Good Hope/Pomona Neighbourhood Democratic Council for any comments he might wish to make.