Residents of the Abary, Mahaicony and Mahaica creeks were told yesterday that a canal would be dug to drain the excessive rainfall water from the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) into the Atlantic Ocean at a cost of $3B.
During a visit to the creeks yesterday, President Bharrat Jagdeo said that the outlet which would help to reduce the flooding in the area should be completed by mid next year. He said a plot of land has been identified on the East Coast Demerara for the project.
The water in the Mahaicony Creek has continued to rise.
He told the residents that once the canal was completed water would no longer be drained through the creeks. He assured the residents that the canal would be given priority even if it meant shifting the money from roads and other projects as it would offer a long-term solution to their flooding problem. According to Jagdeo, the digging of the canal would entail the cutting of the road and railway embankment and constructing bridges. He said it would not just be a small canal but “a major outlet.”
Almost two weeks ago, the level of water in the creeks began to rise after intense rainfall and the releasing of water from the EDWC through the Maduni sluice. Jagdeo told the residents that the water was not released to “punish” them but it had to be done because of the critical state of the dam. He said if government had not taken that decision there would have been a major “catastrophe.”
Farmers in the area said they lost all their crops and have been running out of dry land for their livestock which have started to dwindle. They said that despite efforts to “build up” their land and raise their pens they could not save anything in the “big water,” causing their only means of livelihood to be taken away.
President Bharrat Jagdeo in a serious discussion with residents of Mahaicony Creek yesterday.
Yesterday while waiting in the creek for the President to arrive, this reporter observed an elderly couple, Mansaram Deochand and his wife, transporting the remainder of their sheep in a boat to higher ground. They said 10 sheep and eight cows had already died for them.
The residents had issued a call for the President to visit the creeks to see the extent of their situation. They also said they needed to be compensated for their loss of crops and livestock and that they also needed a supply of food items.
The President repeated the announcement that Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud– also part of the visiting team–made at the Mahaicony Creek last week that the farmers would be assisted with planting materials and fertilizer to start their crop again at the end of the rainy season.
Jagdeo also told the farmers that government would assist with some fuel while the Civil Defence Committee would be distributing food hampers to a few poor households. He said he did not want to make flood relief a “dependency issue because people with a little water accumulation would expect relief.”
An elderly couple transporting the remainder of their flock of sheep away from the floodwaters yesterday so they can survive.
He mentioned too that while he did not want to sound “pessimistic,” the rainfall would continue. According to him, the completion of the second phase of the MMA scheme would also bring relief but that project would cost US$60 million.
‘we can’t stop the rain’
At the Abary Creek, where the President made his first stop, one resident, Mahase Prahalad said that they have suffered flooding since 2005 and that while “we can’t stop the rain” the EDWC should be kept at a low level one month before it starts.
The President responded that the level was at 52 GD [Georgetown Datum] and after the rainfall continued it rose to 59 GD. He said water must have flowed from the backlands even before rain started in the creeks and on the coast. He added that dredging of the Abary River would cost US$5M and that they were still “waiting on the Venezuelans”.
Prahalad also mentioned that during the flood last year he “fight” for the mouth of the Abary River to be cleared and that within a few days the water started to flow. He said government provided the fuel and labour cost and a farmer provided his “short-boom excavator.” He made a request for the work to be continued. He also said when the trees are chopped they are left in the creek, causing it to be silted up more.
Jagdeo then decided that the method of clearing the mouth would be tried again and said that a “long-boom” excavator would be provided for the job.
Farmers also complained that the access dam at Onverwagt was in a deplorable condition and that during the rainy weather it was difficult to transport their paddy. The President responded that he learnt that some farmers were using the dam indiscriminately with heavy-duty vehicles. He then asked Chairman of the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary/Agricultural-Development-Authority (MMA/ADA), Ronald Gajraj, to introduce a “pass system” and if persons traversed the dam more than four times with such vehicles they would have to pay.
According to Jagdeo, persons are looking to government to fix the road but there was no money for that.
This prompted farmers to blurt out that “since the road build it never maintained,” except for sand that is thrown in the potholes and gets washed out during the rain.
The President agreed to the farmers’ suggestion that if they lost their crops MMA should use consideration and waive the charges. He also asked farmers to desist from “building small kokers in big trenches” which “becomes a choking point and blocks everyone.”
Upon requests, the head of state promised the residents and farmers that an excavator would be provided to empolder their land, mentioning that 350 residents of Mahaica, Mahaicony and the Pomeroon had already benefited. A group of housewives complained about the condition of the dam that their children have to traverse to attend school and requested that a boat be provided to transport them to school. The President promised to honour their request and instructed Regional Chairman of Region Five, Harrinarine Baldeo, to include it in this year’s budget.
Also accompanying the President on his trip were general managers of the Rice Producers Association, Dharamkumar Seeraj; the Guyana Rice Development Board, Jagnarine Singh, and the MMA Aubrey Charles; veterinary officers from the Ministry of Agriculture and other officials.
3B? what’s the length of this canal?
The president is finding solutions that all of you are calling for to get the water off the lands for long periods but you people always on the negative side,,,Guyanese needs to work together to get their problems solved not like (crabs in a barrel)This is what my fellow blogs should be calling for not the critisize every move make by govt.I am frequently asking one question and everyone of you keep running from it. Again…If anyone of you were in the position of the President (taken into context the present situation in Guyana) what better could you have done?Lay it on the table let us take it from there…This might be constructive and helpful.I will like for all of us to be fair and not anti-govt.
Hey “Soldier”! Whoever you are…. What’s up with you and these (what appears to be rather derogatory) “but you people” (talking down to persons) remarks. The fact that you are in the United States of America (the “Internet” being no exception) where people’s constitutional rights are upheld should have informed your judgement that bloggers have the right to speak whatever is on their minds – it is their constitutional right, nothing more, nothing less.
Also, re: “[...If anyone of you were in the position of the President (taken into context the present situation in Guyana) what better could you have done?Lay it on the table let us take it from there…]” Have you asked yourself if the current Guyanese President (who is no Forbes Burnham) should have been the President of that country. FYI, let the current government in Guyana step down tomorrow and you will see how quickly their places will be filled with the “best of minds” that Guyana can offer.
soldier you is the only negative one here , is only now he
can come up with that idea or plan ? was he sleeping or just
realize he is the president of guyana. This government knows how to manipulate their supporters
also when he shift the funds from roads n bridges what going
to happen to the roads and already crumbling bridges,this regime is so incompetent SOS SOS SOS
…. Yo! soljah ,, i’ll tell u NOW how much better the whole cabal of the PPPled govt CAN do !
an it’s as simple as ABC-123,, “understand” the lanscape to which we belong ! and apply the needed solutions to end the quagmire!
failing to do this – which isthefundamentals of problem solving-! find the “cause”,,,,, the “effect” is in their face
there was talk of a wind farm ! location ? hope beach ,,, well i killed that by simply telling them the ends does not justify the cost – 1 of my concubines from better hope would say the “cause” not cost – WHY ??? the wind on the beach at hope is dictated by the tide,, but is constant at higher elevations !….
that aside,,, may i be permitted to ask of the President ,, and any who has an interest in GUYANA ???????????
i’m gonna ask um anyway !….
1: on whose “advice” is the President making this “bold” statement! r they the same “team stupid” who advised him sometime back to ask world bank for 20mil USD to dredge 4 rivers ???? i killed that too ! much like i plan to do with the 27.9milUSD for the “low income” housing !…..
2: what scientific calculations have beeen employed to calibrate this decision to expend 3 bil -is it USD or GYD ????
here is a few thoughts to contemplate ,, will more of their “band-aid” applications be the answer ??to have a handle to this very simple situation is to understand the “cause” ! the other one is to understand that the laws of physics dictate that water has no “shape or form” hence ” if watah kyan guh haysuh ,,, den ‘e ah goh guh deh ! sorry ,, i’ve tried,,,,believe me i have tried ,, and am still trying to get them to see the error of their ways !
the wider the canal and deeper it is ,, will only afford more silt to move to the ocean where no ammount of money or technology can stop the Mighty Amazon from depositing 3+ million tons of silt at it’s mouth ead day ,, only to have this dispersed by the east west flow along the shores of the “guiana shield” ! in conclusion to the advisors of the President ! i say ,, stop ur “masquerade” and making the president look “silly” for no canal matterns not how long,, wide and,, deep leading to the ocean will have a lasting effect by ur ill conceived “design to impact nature” and waste more money !……
yo soldier, if you dont think the govt should be critisize for their inability to perform then you are a hopeless case my friend, another thing is the useless govt dont seems to listen to anybody,of course there’s the rainy season every year, they sit back the place gets flooded, then they visit people to appear they are concern and get their pictures taken which would then be used come election time,of course i agree with you when you say guyanese needs to work together, but when you have people that are willing to do so and you have a govt that is unwilling what do you get? stagnation and POOR PEOPLE PUNISHING.
Kaieteur Gold…Most bloggers are Guyanese and some appear to be concern about Guyana just for one interest to bash the Government…Guyana is home to most of us but some of us who are lucky migrated and may be leading better lives, or in some instances worst..but have we ever stop and think the main causes of our problems which ran back to the early sixties, race hate,discrimination, racial politics and much more that did not help Guyana one inch. We need to encourage Guyanese that these practices do not take us anywhere, and you must be proud of who you are and where you originate from,,I am guyanese and Guyana is home to me and it make no sense I bash the govt of the day because the previous one made Guyanese cut and run and most stay and bun.You sound like in our small days when we were playing cricket and the bowler cannot get you out, you will say( I give up)so this is what you expect, the govt will give up and you will get someone else to take the bat..You are dreaming my friend…Dream on….
It is true that the president is no Forbes Burnham but I heard numerous persons in and of Guyana comment that he is worse than Burnham.They never give reasons for saying why they deem him to be worse than Burnham but now I know why.
yo soldier,what you say about the racehate and discrimination during the sixties are true, but let me say this it is still happening today my friend, there been little change, just pay a visit home and if you are inteligent you will see for yourself, on the other hand if you are arogant and tends to lean more to the govts side( and i think you are a supporter, nothing wrong with that)then it’s no use you will believe that everything is ok,another issue i want to point out is statistics shows that more people left guyana within the last 16yrs period than in previous years, check it out, one love.
Can someone of you blogs explain what michael Tennesse is trying to say…doesn’t make any sense to me….I have tried reading it forward and backward and still not getting anywhere…
Do Guyanese people know what they really want? Most of us including myself, bad mouth the government on this flood ting…Now the Prez. responds with a possible solution and many start pounding it from day one. This is the reason why things can never get done in GY; lack of cooperation among people, almost everybody is an expert or a critic. When the time comes to really contribute constructive ideas or solution, nuff people does end up with dem hand in de mouth.
This flood ting will have to be solved one step at a time, instant solution requires magic.
Soldier
You do not have to explain anything to those pro pnc anti govt bloggers..
attack attack attack mob mentality rule is entrenched in them..
this is what they do best..so do not expect any better from them…you keep on blogging your mind here as long as sn will allow you coz i will do the same as long as sn allows me…
great blog and great response from you Soldier..
Soldier, a number of us bloggers came up with the same conclusion about MT’s blog comments, but he is a regular, so we are all stuck with him, like it or not. Try reading it sideways and see if it makes a difference. LOL
Joe.
Soldier,
Since this flood ting started MT has been talking about “Band- aid, spit, Bubble gum” and other tings I can’t understand either. Mek a long story short, he thinks the gov’t should abaodon the coast, move the population/infrastructure more inland.
It sounds practical to move to higher ground when flooding takes place but how do you relocate a poplulation of over 700,000 to the jungle?
Guyana has the funds required to do this?
…Again, solutions will come one step at a time but some people want Magic to take place.
That’s right Soldier hold your ground, they wanted to know what Jag would do,well he is at ground zero and will fix this crisis,that being said God bless Jag and the republic of Guyana.
Something about this idea just doesn’t feel right. Maybe it’s just my feeling. Thinking, thinking, thinking…Nabacalis and Shanks canals from EDWC to Atlantic …. still thinking… hmmmmm…
ok.I WILL HELP YOU THINK TOO!!!!!!!1 HHHHHMMMMMMMMMM
Soldiers , its time like this when you have to separate the boys from the men, followers and leaders, which one is president Jagdeo, remember he is the captain of the ship, if the ship sinks he has to go down with the ship, he is suppose to have advisors in his cabinet to support him not to wait for me or the people who elected him to advise him, but there is one suggestion I could give, in future do not allow history (Flood 2005) to repeat itself.
QUAN YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE THINKING LIKE THAT, I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN COME UP WITH A THREE BILLION DOLLAR ESTIMATE SO QUICKLY WITHOUT A STUDY CONDUCTED, SOMEONE IS ABOUT TO BE PAID HANDSOMLY,WITH TAXPAYER’S MONEY.
Re: “QUAN YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE THINKING LIKE THAT, I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND ………………………………………………… TO BE PAID HANDSOMELY,WITH TAXPAYER’S MONEY.” Talking about this… where is the parliamentary debates, public hearings, debates…. on this project. Also, why has an approach not been made by the Government of Guyana to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank…. for funding for this (these) project/s!!!
Why is the President waiting on the Venezuelans? What are they planning to do that we cannot do ourselves. The Venezuelans are useing the Ventiver Grass, he can tell them to bring over a starter crop. I have the name and address of the company in Venezuela.
The digging of new canals will relieve the situation somewhat, but is not a permanent solution by itself. The real problem is silt buildup, whereever the currents slow down or bottlenecks, the silt will build up, that happens to be at the mouth of the kokers.
There was a company in Guyana that was manufacturing missile dredges, if my memory serves me right, Stanley Ming was part of that company, so why are they awaiting Venezuelans to arrive?
Joe.
oh lawd stop with your blasted ventiver grass
Hi Joe….I have to correct you here. Silt does not deposit at bottle necks…but rather when the water slows down or meets another body of water of greater volume. Even if the water slows down but is warm, sediment continues to flow, until it meets a bigger volume of water.
Another canal to take off the overflow from the EDWC is feasible but seems like a band-aid solution to me. Time and money spent will tell.
I am pleasantly surprised that Jagdeo took the time off from his busy schedule to meet and talk to the people. LOL…that’s all they need to vote the PPPC back into power.
I’m always pleased too, to see photographs of home life and places I used to roam :)
Thanks SN.
Joe….what I forgot to mention is, bottlenecks aggitate the water and keeps silt afloat by the turbulent movement of the water. Do not underestimate the power of water.
Cheers
Rambler, I am sure that you have also been reading the blogs, of those who have been continuously bashing the PPP and the PNC at every chance they get.
Well my friend that has been going on for the past 35 years. I have been mentioning the Vetiver grass for the last 3 weeks and you are yelling.
May I suggest that you stick to reading blogs, that are more appropriate to your appeal and mental capacity, and leave my blogs to those who prefer healthy debate.
Concerned, I hear you, thanks for the information, I do not know everything, I only pretend to know everything. LOL
Joe.
Ow, the perils of being President – being blamed for everything, even God’s work when it don’t benefit us. The President didn’t bring the rain nor can he, nor his govt. stop it. Even if y’all scream out loud that he’s responsible for preventing the floods, how much can be done? How much money Guyana got? The amount of rainfall is because of the melting glaciers up North and the global warming, nuff mo rain got fuh fall and nuff mo flooding got fuh happen. President Jagdeo should advise his people to move to higher ground permanently and fuhget about livin on de coastline, then he can be considered a God fuh rescueing his people from floods and can be honestly rediculed if he fails even then.
NONSENSE MACKYPUPPY stop your rhetoric, what has he done since the last major floodings???? tell us here …
mackyDOG, holland used to be the most flooded place on earth, they are always on the attack from watery forces from all around the country, but they were able to act by putting measures in place, unlike the govt in guyana, they not even trying.shame
turbo,
To answer yuh question…HE REBUILT A COUNTRY THAT BURNHAM AND THE PNC MASHED UP TO WHAT IT IS TODAY.
I know, y’all gon seh “is not about Burnham, he don dead long ago” But it is about Burnham and de PNC. Turbo asked de question, wha kinda worms he expected?
Torbo, he has done the job of the PNC controlled RDC region 4.
I guess they just don’t get it. How much more efficient and cost effective will a long boom excavator be over dredges??? With so many dredges in GY why are they waiting on the Venezuelans? Will the ‘Venezuelans’ supply the $US5M? I read this article with disbelief! Is this the best the Head of State can do?
At long last $3Billion for one step aimed at flood prevention/control! I do applaud this positive move but will be happier if it represents the first step to address in a sustained manner this historical challenge to our capacity to be a major producer in this part of the world. I am hoping our people hold Government to this promise and that our communities,our University and practicing professionals are involved in the design and monitoring every step to ensure quality work. The media and our auditors should position themselves to aggressively ensure no “kickbacks for the boys”! The sum of money seems attractive but can easily find its way into the pockets of the “pointmen” , “collectors” and that of the cabal.
I sincerely hope our underachieving leaders will begin to address the issue of desilting/widening/extending our creeks and major canals in ways which will increase water holding capacity. A single canal would seem as a knee jerk reaction when what is needed is a sustained response which draws upon the collective experiences of the several administrations,including our colonial past. I am also looking forward to a futuristic land development policy that will ensure our riverain and low lying coastal areas are prepared/protected before housing or farming commences. Our hardworking residents and farmers have suffered too long while our leaders played politics and ignored experiences and technology that can be used to solve/minimize the problem.
Re: “At long last $3Billion for one step aimed at flood prevention/control! I do applaud this positive move but will be happier if it represents the first step to address in a sustained manner this historical challenge to our capacity to be a major producer in this part of the world. I am hoping our people hold Government to this promise and that our communities,our University and practicing professionals are involved in the design and monitoring every step to ensure quality work. The media and our auditors should position themselves to aggressively ensure no “kickbacks for the boys”! The sum of money seems attractive but can easily find its way into the pockets of the “pointmen” , “collectors” and that of the cabal….” Easy solution – build the canal/s by Self-Help, National Service, Army Corps of Engineers… (with the help of Caribbean Nationals included); but, better than the late L. F. S. Burnham Government’s attempt at the Upper Mazaruni Hydro-Electric and Interior Road Projects.
you forget the glass factory, bicycle factory, the cotton mill, ?????????
Is jagdeo for real? the govt of guyana should declare that area a natural disaster and allow relief organizations like the red cross,adra, etc,etc to deliver aid to the affected areas in the country.
… to all GUYANESE ! and to anyone else,, anywhere on the planet,,
if u wish to engage me ,, on what is goin to be further “WASTE” of the peoples’ MONEY ! here’s how u can reach me so that i can show u WHY !!!
iamtan4ever@msn.com ,,,,, alternately call 301 592 0301….
u have 2 choices use them NOW so that our voices can be heard ! yesterday while the President and Dr. Luncheon was in the fields ,, i
sent a mail to their offices respectively ,, with highlights !
if they choose to ignore me ,, then they MUST be held accountable for the WASTE that is abt to be more of the same !…..
if u r as a GUYANESE ,, who like me suffer at the misery endured by those in GUYANA now ,, then i shall expect ALL to ask why ? i was the guest speaker in a telephone forum that included many from the opposition who left convinced that my facts make sense !
it’s either RELOCATION ! or stay and WASTE MORE ! while all endure the psychological torture that is the harbinger of mental anguish !
I humbly suggest that you return to Guyana and run for the presidency
STOP BLAMING THE PRESIDENT GUYS, WHAT CAN HE DO? IT’S GOD’S WORK,3B DOLLARS SOUNDS FINE, BUT HOW MUCH OF IT IS GOING TO BE USED CONSTRUCTIVELY, AND NOT FATTEN THE POCKETS OF THE “POINTMEN”, ALSO WHY
ARE THEY WAITING ON THE “VENEZUELANS” DON’T WE HAVE OWN THINKING?
Mr. President do you have engineers who work out of their offices?, if you do then you will not have to expend 3B G’s (or is it US) to solve the flooding problem.