Dochfour remained swamped yesterday in the floodwater which began to accumulate for a second time over the weekend as a result of recent heavy rainfall and up to late yesterday afternoon no measures had been taken to alleviate the situation.
Dochfour, a small farming community near Ann’s Grove on the East Coast Demerara, was under feet of water for most of December. It was only for the New Year that drainage authorities managed to rid the village of the floodwaters.
However, within days water began gushing in the community again. Washing away the little hope residents had said they had of making a new start.
These people, who have suffered for weeks, fear having the floodwaters increase further and wonder when they will be able to immediately replant their crops.
The main drainage canal at the Ann’s Grove/Clonbrook which is responsible for draining waters from these communities overgrown with vegetation.
When Stabroek News visited the community on Sunday residents had informed us that replacing a tube which drains water from a Dochfour trench into another that runs to the Hope koker was one of the ways to ease the flooding in the area.
However, a visit to the area yesterday revealed that no such action has been taken. Efforts made to contact the drainage authorities about the present state of the Dochfour situation were futile. Both Chairman of the Region Four Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Clement Corlette, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth were unavailable for comment.
Water had already covered the section of the road where the culvert was embedded when Stabroek News visited the area yesterday; this according residents, is a clear indication that the water level in Dochfour is rising.
Residents also reiterated their need to know where the proposed trench running from the East Demerara Water Conservancy to the Atlantic Ocean would be located, as according to them, they had learnt that it would be close to their community and some might have to move.
Thus far, the Hope koker has been relied on as the main drainage source for the community but residents have no faith in the structure. Residents believe that drainage authorities are “not doing the job as they should”.
This shop at Dochfour has been flooded since the heavy rainfall began in early December of last year.
While they agreed that it was a good thing that the drainage authorities were able to relieve the community of the water, they said enough attention was not given to how they would keep the water off the land.
“Dem can’t be doing things halfway, halfway… is we suffering,” an upset farmer stated yesterday.
During our visit to East Coast shortly after 1 pm yesterday this newspaper observed that waters had also risen in Clonbrook and Ann’s Grove.
In addition to this, the main drainage canals in these areas were heavily overgrown with vegetation.
This was evident in a section of the main drainage canal responsible for taking the water from Dochfour to the Hope koker.
I know this area and this shop is a problem. It is one of the reasons Dochfore is flooding. There was a trench where this shop is, what happen to the trench?
I hope the villagers are doing something to help themselves?. Since the government is sound asleep and don’t want to help they better help themselves because things will only get worse as this is only the beginning of the rainny season.
omg
Mr. President, here is the reason for my numerous questions regarding the proposed, scratch that, PROMISED GY $3B canal.
Tell us why Dochfour is not draining?
It does not require a nuclear physicist to identify the issues of maintenance and topology (geographic and hydrologic).
So, Mr. President, to dig or not to dig? That is the question.
Blogs you have to wake up the regional chairman…he needs to get these residents relieved of this flood, when he fails then the govt is responsible…This chairman returns 30% of the budgeted funds for the region to central govt evry year and still these areas are flooded.
a shop in a trench? no wonder they flooded out.
ANMARIE,WE DO HAVE A REGIONAL CHAIRMAN,THE PRESIDENT NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING IF SO WE DONT NEED DISTRICT COUNCILS AND REGIONAL CHAIRMANS.
the president behaves and acts like the all knowing authority so, the regional chairmen and councils cant do the job.
SOLDIER, YOU HAVE HIT A “HOMER”.. I restrained myself from bringing this up earlier.. for personal reasons.. however. the practice by certain local authorities of returning the funds alocated.. seems a lowdown political tactic practiced by the majority Opposition ruled areas.. especially Reg. 4.. Ihave had reliable contacts in the not too distant past with officials of the EC area and they were either TOO DUMB” to submit viable programs for the effective use of allocated funds or deliberately delayed submission of said plans, so as to score cheap political points against the Central govt. while the quality of services continue to deteriorate in ther neighborhoods… ..
I am going to Dochfour. Wish me a good swim.
Dochfour still swamped: no action taken
this should be ancient news now
shop in de trench..weeds in de trench…garbage in de trench…
oh yea its the ppp government put all this in de trench…….