City, several regions hit by flooding
Torrential rain all along the coast raised fears about flooding yesterday and in Georgetown and outlying areas water rushed into homes and businesses wreaking havoc in the midst of Christmas shopping.
Several downtown stores closed while others braved water up to their doors as floodwater from the overnight rain poured into ground flats, in some instances swamping articles that were at floor level.
Although city sluices were opened to let water out yesterday afternoon, late last evening city streets were still flooded.
Along the city’s main thoroughfares such as Regent Street and South Road, pedestrians were forced to walk on the road as the pavements were covered.
At the area surrounding Demico House and the Route 40 and 48 Minibus Park a lake was evident. The usual sellers and barbers on the pave were forced to pack up business for the day. This was the same thing happening on Regent Street where hawkers would normally be abundant at this time of the year, with the Christmas season around the corner. Along Regent Street, Robb Street and other areas storekeepers made makeshift bridges to their stores in a bid to attract the few shoppers who braved the inclement weather.
This was the dilemma that beset both shopper and seller yesterday in many parts of the city after intense rain.
Other stores such as Wireless Connections on Regent Street were busily trying to save the items that were on the floor as the water swept in overnight soaking items.
One really had to be desperate to brave the water around the Bourda market to get inside; where in some parts there was water too. The floating filth in the water was not a sight one wished to behold much less take a trek through.
Traffic moved at a snail’s pace while storekeepers and sellers complained of the slow sales that will ensue because of the flooded city.
This young lady looked as if she was about to paddle through Regent Street yesterday amid the deluge.
Motor vehicles drove carefully along the East Coast Highway as the roads were heavily flooded.
City Hall Public Relations Officer Royston King told Stabroek News that all of the city’s pumps except the ones at Princes Street and River View were working. King said that the malfunctioning of these two pumps was because of two seals that the City’s Engineering Department was now trying to procure.
King said that although it might sound like a mantra, the Council is once again appealing to citizens to desist from dumping garbage in waterways. King said that the Deputy Mayor Robert Williams and Local Government Minister Kellawan Lall met yesterday to discuss the heavy rainfall and its impact on the city. He also said that from 2 pm Tuesday to 2 pm yesterday there was some 93.9 millimetres of rainfall and that sluices could not be open at certain periods due to the high tides.
The ubiquitous garbage that helps to fuel floods. This was the scene at the No.45 bus park, Stabroek Market yesterday.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Public Works through a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release is urging persons, especially those on the East Coast and in the city to take precautionary measures. The release said that some three inches of rainfall was experienced within three hours and sluices were closed at 10:30 yesterday because of rising tides. The sluices were opened around 5 pm yesterday but did not do much to lessen the water around the city. The release also sought to reassure residents that all available pumps were in operation.
West Demerara
And the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday warned again that heavy rain is expected to continue in the next several days as several areas across the country experienced varying degrees of flooding particularly on the West Demerara, with certain areas in Canal Number Two under a foot of water.
The ubiquitous garbage that helps to fuel floods. This was the scene at the No.45 bus park, Stabroek Market yesterday.
Regions Three, Four, Five and Six recorded approximately five inches of rainfall within the last 24 hours resulting in an accumulation of water in various areas in these regions, GINA said in a press release.
Meantime, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Hydrometeorological Service advised that the current periodic heavy downpours are expected to continue with above average rainfall and today, particularly during the early morning hours, overcast conditions with periodic intense downpours are very likely to prevail across coastal Guyana. “It is anticipated during (the) next seven days that cloudy to overcast conditions with showers are likely to prevail particularly during the early morning hours along the coast”, the Ministry said in a statement.
There have been reports of flooding and heavy accumulation of water mostly in low-lying areas of Region Three (Canal Number One, Belle West, Parika and Naamryck Backdam) and Region Four (Cane Grove, Greenfield, Hope, Nootenzuil, Enmore, Montrose, Good Hope, Grove and Diamond), the Ministry said. Sections of Georgetown were also badly affected by flooding yesterday.
Region Three Chairman, Julius Faerber told GINA that in the Clay Brick and Belle West areas there was approximately one foot of water on the land while areas such as Canal Number One, Hague and Parika backdams are also affected. He said that they are monitoring the situation carefully.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Lionel Wordsworth, who was in the region, stated that currently interventions are being made to channel the backland waters away from the flooded areas. He noted that at La Jalousie, a sluice was reactivated on Tuesday night and a dragline has been sent to clean the nearby ‘basin’.
The Ministry explained that the current instability in the weather is influenced by the presence of a low to mid level trough interacting with the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone and is being supported by a mid to upper level ridge over coastal and inland Guyana. It said that the system is very active in Regions 4, 5, 6 and 10 and areas such as Land of Canaan, Lama, Maduni, Grass Hook, Little Biaboo, D’Edward Village, Pine Ground, Grass Hook, and Number 63 Village had recorded in excess of 40 mm (1.57 inches) of rainfall between 8 am on Tuesday and 8 am yesterday.
Additionally, the Ministry said that Little Biaboo and Grass Hook have recorded in excess of 110 mm/4.33 inches of rainfall in 24 hours and Georgetown recorded 89.4mm/3.52 inches in 2.5 hours (between 8am and 10:30am yesterday).
Also, a rise in the water level was recorded in the upper reaches of the Mahaica and Mahaicony Creeks, while the conservancies remain at a safe and manageable level, the ministry said adding that the NDIA continues to monitor and undertake critical drainage works in vulnerable areas to reduce flooding.
Meantime, Region Two Chairman Ali Baksh told GINA that there has been an accumulation of water in Pomeroon, Charity and Anna Regina, though the drainage pumps are operational and additional fuel has been sent to Charity. He also revealed that there was an undermining of the seawall at Aurora village but there has been no major damage.
In Region Four, Regional Chairman, Clement Corlette said that water had accumulated in Annandale, Buxton, Bachelor’s Adventure, Enmore and Montrose and pointed out that the pumps are functioning. Wordsworth said that in order to ensure that the water is removed from the land in this region; two pontoons with excavators have been deployed to clear some outfall channels while equipment have been sent to ‘high risk’ areas such as Hope, Green Field and La Bonne Intention.
In Region Five, Regional Chairman, Harrinarine Baldeo said that due to a few blocked drains in the region there was a slight build up of water on the land in some areas while in Region Six, the Chairman, Zulfikar Mustapha noted that over the past few days the region has seen heavy rainfall in the villages of No. 51, 52 and 74, and as a result the levels in the canals are high though there has been no recorded flooding over the last 24 hours. Region Nine Chairman, Clarindo Lucas said that it is sunny there.
The Agriculture Ministry also stated that the NDIA’s 76 mobile drainage pumps and 28 excavators are deployed at strategic locations for effectiveness while NDIA engineers are deployed in various regions to monitor the situation closely. The ministry advised farmers and residents, particularly those in low-lying and vulnerable areas to take the necessary precautions against flooding.
WHO pocket is the millions$$ that was spend to fix drainage and irrigation.
most of for got that guyana is below sea level..and no matter millions//billions///trillion..you can not prevent flood…..
$700M, my Lord, i might need some help soon, or perhaps a boat…..seriously, if anybody “p” in south, it floods….now imagine rain in the morning at 3pm then at 9pm EVERYDAY!!! i know they have to wait until the tide is out to open the koker but it seems like the koker is out…..OUT LIKE SOUTH (so to speak)
Oh and the garbage..does anyone knows whats in these water??? DO i hear that disease coming again in these parts of the world??
This is an outrage and a disgrace, none of this has got to do with climate change, carbon credits, or Guyana being below sea level.
The climate change they are scaring us about is supposed to be the sea level, rising and drowning all of us. The forest destruction they are alarming us about is being done in Brazil, not Guyana. The sea water did not raise to cause this problem.
Now I know why the President is so obsessed with climate change. It is due to his administrations inability, to clean up the gutters, the pictures speak for themselves, This has nothing to do with climate change, there has always been heavy rainy season in Guyana, so it is not the rain, it is the inabliity of the rainwater to run off.
However this is the wet straw that broke the camels back. Enough is enough, Listen folks, I am not very much into politics, I do not believe in the politician period.
But this next coming election I would like to propose a new candidate, I would like to propose a door knob for president.
So please guys, no more PPP, no more PNC, please vote for my candidate the dumb door knob, you have nothing else to loose.
Joe.
Guys the cause for this flooding is simple to demonstrate, just make a rough estimate of the area that has been flooded and to what depth, then convert to cubic feet, next estimate the length and width of all the canals that are supposed to drain off this water, use a debth of one foot,and convert to cubic feet, now divide the canal volume by the flood area volume and that will show how many feet of silt needs to be removed to accomodate all of the runoff. Of course the drains has to be unclogged, how hard is that to figure out.
Now if you throw the silt back into the rice and cane fields, you kill two birds with one stone.
Joe.
Hi Uncle Joe! Re: “[...just make a rough estimate of the area that has been flooded and to what depth, then convert to cubic feet, next estimate the length and width of all the canals that are supposed to drain off this water, use a depth of one foot,and convert to cubic feet, now divide the canal volume by the flood area volume and that will show how many feet of silt needs to be removed to accommodate all of the runoff. Of course the drains has to be unclogged, how hard is that to figure out.
Now if you throw the silt back into the rice and cane fields, you kill two birds with one stone...]” How about filling all the drains and canals; and, at the lowest points have the battery of pumps to discharge the calculated volume of water into the Demerara River and the Atlantic Ocean. The garbage will be recycled and used for power generation… now, consider the savings in man-hours to do all that digging; also, all the savings in petroleum products to run the machinery taking the silt to the cane and rice fields. Besides, all the mosquitoes gone – walla! Now, don’t you think that the filling up of the drains and canals is a far superior idea! Have you ever heard of a place named New Orleans in the USA where such systems are in place to battle Hurricane conditions. ;-)!
Do these businesses insurance policy cover for water damages .
i dont agree with u True Guyanese,,how coem we never use to flood like this back in the days…and where all the millions going…mayb to Mayor Green…he always traveling somewhere, yet they dont have money to pay the worker to clean the drains…its really sad whts happening in Guyana…
Good reporting on the weather Stabroek News (SN); Re “[...Torrential rain all along the coast raised fears about flooding yesterday and in Georgetown and outlying areas water rushed into homes and businesses wreaking havoc in the midst of Christmas shopping.
Several downtown stores closed while others braved water up to their doors as floodwater from the overnight rain poured into ground flats, in some instances swamping articles that were at floor level.
Although city sluices were opened to let water out yesterday afternoon, late last evening city streets were still flooded.
Along the city’s main thoroughfares such as Regent Street and South Road, pedestrians were forced to walk on the road as the pavements were covered....]” At this time it will be apposite to reflect on an article by Rory Westmas warning about Guyanese citizens continuing occupation on the low lying coastal lands in Guyana in difference to the sounds (alarms) of the threat by Global Warming. Against this background There is an old saying that – “Those Who Fail To Prepare Must Also Prepare To Fail”. What if this (or the next) time around it is worse than 2005?
Why do people blame everything on Global warming when in fact the problem here is efficiency. GOLD, two main pumps are not working at this crucial time. It is always the case. Let me tell you this. In light of threats of global warming with present tecnology I do not see why we cannot keep the ocean off the coast for the next 100 years. All it calls for is a better sea defence, a re-designing of the irrigation system and pumping stations every 3 miles on the East coast. There are many urban areas around the world below sea level and no one is running away, yet.
Guyana needs capital and leaders with vision. To get that – an healthy investment climate. About 2005. Florida sits in the center of huricane paths every year. With your reasoning that state should be deserted.
It is not about blaming everything on global warming “GREG”… it is doing things prudently; and, here is one example:
Re: “Calif. set to adopt sweeping global warming plan”
http://my.att.net/s/editorial.dll?pnum=1&bfromind=7406&eeid=6265915&_sitecat=1522&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=3&ck=&ch=ne&rg=blsadstrgt&_lid=332&_lnm=tg+ne+topnews&ck=
“Rare snow covers south Louisiana, Miss.” which reads in part;
“NEW ORLEANS (AP) – A rare snowfall blanketed south Louisiana and parts of Mississippi Thursday, closing schools, government offices and bridges, triggering crashes on major highways and leaving thousands of people without power.
Parts of Louisiana were expected to get up to four inches of snow. Snow also covered a broad swath of Mississippi, including the Jackson area, and closed schools in more than a dozen districts. The National Weather Service in Jackson said up to 8 inches was possible in the southern and eastern parts of the state.
A heavy band of snow coated windshields and grassy areas in New Orleans, where the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning.
Office workers stepped out of high-rises to catch a snowflake, snap pictures with cell-phone cameras and swap snow stories…”
http://my.att.net/s/editorial.dll?pnum=1&bfromind=7406&eeid=6266847&_sitecat=1522&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=2&ck=&ch=ne&rg=blsadstrgt&_lid=332&_lnm=tg+ne+topnews&ck=
Thus you see from the above it is not only Kaieteur Gold’s statement that must be thought about at this time; and, even if you are not aware (or does not want to be) of the changing weather patterns – a great many are.
Don’t forget some major contributors to global warming are found in City Hall and Parliament!
Guyana has suffered a major brain drain under the present administration that we have.the educated people had already find their way out of the country and the few that are remaining are looking for a way out because of the mest up political system that we have. so there is no way that we can develop when we have num skulls running the country and the edicated ones devloping other countries.a lot of my family members has already leave the country and the others are looking for a way out or are waiting to finish their studies.It’s happening to so many families across guyana
Gold, read F. Skinner’s letter in yesterday issue. Your above comment points to global cooling.
As the saying goes “a picture is worth a thousand words”.
Year after year Guyana has encoumter this problem amd what the government has done? The answer is the government has not done anything to deal with the problem. Guyana Infrastructure is shot… who is to blame the PPP AND THE PNC Governmrnt.There are thousands of things someone can do to stop the flooding that is going on in Guyana. You do not have to be a rocket scientist to stop the flooding. However year after year one can see th leadership or advisers of Guyana are very ignorant.
Simple things as just keeping all drainage clean on a daily or weekly basis is not being done in Guyana. If a government of a country cannot do something as basic as that then they should not be ruling the country. These are just basic things the government of the country cannot do.It is a damn shame.
I guess that the discussion will continue about better drainage until
the rain stop.
pking, when the rain stops in Guyana, the people would have to start worrying about diseases, especially rat borne diseases. You do not want me to tell you about the size of the rats in Georgetown, especially the Regent St. area. They are very big and fat, and some seem to be very old, moving around slowly as if the have hernia (“goady”) and arthritis in their feet. I once stopped to eat a cook-up rice one night from the late Powers who used to sell at night on Regent St, in front of Alim Shaw, and a big one almost run me over. I watched it ran across Regent St. with its testicle dragging on the streets. Rats in tropical climate tend to grow larger…roaches too.
RL
When will it all end? When the relevant authorities nip this problem in the bud? Come on Mr. Benn, Mr. Green why are you people occupying those offices? Is it for show? Let’s get some progress. Guyanese are fed up. Only negatives, negatives, and more negatives about our country.
guyanese needs to stop throwing garbage in the drains, which clogs up and cause flooding, don’t put all the blame on the govt the citizens needs to be blamed also.
These same politicians you mention was in power for 5 decades.I do not believe they have better their own lives, much less others.
The people are suffering because they themselves help to back up the water , by not disposing of GARBAGE properly. Yes the drainage is not the best, but you ever see the garbage at the koker and elsewhere.
I was recently showing an American neighbour some scenes of Georgetown, Lo and behold up came a picture of the seawalls, near the bandstand, Full of Garbage on the beautiful beach.
Politicians can’t help, they thinking about themselves, Fat Cats
You may not believe this, I don’t like PPP, nor PNC , they are a bunch of fat cats, who out for their own belly. 42 bloody years, and look at it. I don’t even believe their is a good D&I Engineer living in Guyana,
They all had to leave to better their lives.Up to now you cant have decent electricity, water,roads, etc. etc.
I have a relative who is an outstanding engineer, You all have nothing to offer such a qualified person.
Where are all the millions? I know good where it is. It’s not where it’s supposed to be. Poor man got to suffer.They running illegal
cords to get a little electricity.I spoke to one of my wife’s relative
this weekend, he was sitting in the dark waiting for the call, No electricity, If you ain’t shame, I shame, When will they get decent electricity, and water.May God help Guyanese.
it will only end when they are educated and computent leadrs occupaying those seats. minister of tourism whatdevelopment was made. mayor.city is worse that ever.min of defence can’t defend our dorder( venezuelan solders cross guyana dorder and blew up dredge. shot and kill suppose oil smugler etc.) min of education alphabetismo at it’s highest school drop out unqualified teachers etc.min of health………you all get the picture ah? when will we be allowed to build more that 4 floors (stories)high. I don’t think that a dunce will wan’t a wiz under him, that will just make him look more foolish.so i guest that he will hire one as stupid as him or even more stupid.
i agree with u mr green and mr benn need to get out of their chairs and do something the city is stink but then the ppl need to stop dumping the garbage on the streets and i the drains cause the water can’t go no where if the drains r full of garbage.
….. in GUYANA we does seh ,, wen yuh doan hare ,, if yuh aze haad ,, den yuh gat fuh feel !,,,wah yuh gon feel depenze pon wah yuh en haring !… ize like dis ,, “easy lessen gud fuh dunce “…..
here where i am ,, it’s raining ,, but ,, we have the ability and infrastructure to deal with floods ? if/when it happens ,, do we have anything in place in GY ,, for this to be avioded ???????????????????
or at least to be countered ! take a few moments to consider ur options ,, r u goin to wait an see ! this of course is the age old philosophy of most ,, G’nese ! good luck !……
yes blame it on the rain!every 6 hrs is tide -still guyana is flooded.
eeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwww, what a mess.
boy oh boy, hope they fix that soon.
That is just dreadful.
All reactive measures.But you know, having lived in this penny pinching backwater for the past 34yrs, I saw this coming.When there was a long dry spell I told my colleagues that our authorities will wait until the rains come and flood Georgetown and its outskirts, then they deploy resources to clean.So said, so done.
This country is run by mediocres from the very top to right down.
Tell me in the name of heaven, if you could find money now to do these reactive works, why couldn’t you find that same money during the dry season, plan properly and execute.
Darn!!!
Ah keep telling ya all it is time to build dat L. F. S. Burnham International Airport somewhere in the interior. It is only time before the “TSUNAME WAVE” hits GT; and, by then it will be all gon lake. So, let us all sit back and wait and see the fallacy of the PPP Administration! :-(
Give de people a break nuh.
They’re trying to right the wrongs of the previous administration. It’s not their fault at all. They only took over in 1992.
But tell me please? Did we ever have such large scale devastating floods under the “previous administration”?
Queen,
sure we had flooding when Burnham dictated the country. What we didn’t have was T.V…. Internet or any other media but newspapers to cummunicate with the people especially, the overseas bunch.
We also did not have that many villages, houses or squatting areas on flood prone areas.
The quantity of garbage generated by a more North Americian minded society is phenomenal. We have the infrastructure to deal with disposable garbage, Guyana doesn’t.
The car park situation is diplorable, despicable and unacceptable. Why are the vendors allowed to just dump garbage on the streets without any recourse is the Mayor’s fault. Why can’t they provide drums, bins or even enclosures for the garbage to be collected and disposed of daily is beyond the most simple minded thought.
I am sorry for those who are affected by the floodings.
I hope the heavy rains let up soon.
Re: “Give de people a break nuh” It is written – “The Wicked Shall Suffer and Perish” It might be “water” now; but, wait until it is “fire and brim stones”!
I was a lil boy when RHT, C/tyne, Berbice flood in 1972.