A brief respite from flooding for Dochfour, East Coast Demerara residents ended Saturday, as heavy rains that afternoon and early yesterday swamped the area, though not as badly as before.
Piggy-back ride: This was the means of transport used by many in Dochfour to move their children from one point to another yesterday. (Gaulbert Sutherland photo)
The renewed flooding has left the residents deeply upset and frustrated with many calling for the quick reactivation of the critical Hope Koker, saying only this will drain the area whenever it rains heavily. Water in the low-lying community was several inches deep and appeared not to be moving, this newspaper observed on a visit to the community yesterday afternoon.
Halima Sadick stares at the inches of water which has once again accumulated in her Dochfour yard.
Two pumps that had helped to drain the water last week after over three weeks of flood misery were removed on Friday and residents said that these should be brought back as a temporary measure. They feared that more heavy rain could deepen their woes. “If more rain come, is more water gon come in and it ain’t gat nowhere to run” said one resident. Embankments have been built around the community and there is virtually no drainage out. A tube leading from the village to an adjoining canal is yet to be installed. At the Hope Koker, which was opened when this newspaper visited late yesterday afternoon, the flow of water out to the sea was barely discernible.
The tube that is visible in the left background of this photo was supposed to be installed in the dug-out area across the Dochfour Access Road to aid in draining the water.
Residents continued to count their losses yesterday, with many expressing worry about the weather, food, work and loans that have to be repaid. They said too some assistance should be rendered to them to help them get back on their feet and many advocated some form of compensation.
Out of his 15 sheep, four have died, with two more catching cramp yesterday, Latchman Kallicharan said. Their pen is under water and the sheep are being kept at another villager’s home. “The government should see that people need help…nobody ain’t getting nothing from (their) farm”, he commented. Another resident remarked that the Hope Koker was not “up to standard” but the excavators clearing the channel had already left. The residents said that the pumps should be brought back to remove the water, since the village was low-lying and the water was not running off.
Floodwaters have risen again in Dochfour. This is a flooded section of the community’s heart.
Bridgegobin Mohabir said that the main issue was the Hope koker. “The koker gat to be fixed”, he declared adding that if it was not, the next rainy season would present the same problem. This newspaper had been told by Clement Corlette, Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Four that the koker’s lack of performance lay in a faulty groyne which causes it to become easily silted up. Corlette had reported that the Hope koker’s groyne was practically non-existent. This, according to the RDC Chairman, was because the groyne was old and needs to be maintained. However, while the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority had discussed the maintenance of the groyne, Corlette had explained that works would not start until later this year. “If the koker nah function nothing gon happen inside here”, said one resident.
Sunday Lime: this was the most relaxing spot these ladies could find in their flooded environs yesterday.
Farmers further said that they could not replant at this time because it is too wet and the land is very muddy. And losing their crops presents other problems. Feroze Mohamed said that he had taken a loan from the Institute of Private Enterprise Development and is worried about keeping up with his payments since all his crops were lost. He said that persons should be given documents so as to allow them some time to repay their loans. He stated that he was not the only person facing that problem in the village.
This Dochfour farmer holds up a lamb which died from cramps. The mother and remaining lamb in this photo may suffer the same fate.
Meantime, residents said that they should have been given jobs cleaning the trenches in their area as with the current flood, many of them had no source of income. But they noted a contractor had utilized labour from elsewhere. Apart from the many common worries voiced, Halima Sadick had another. She said that the water was washing away the ground surrounding the foundation of her house. “We need the groyne to fix but right now they need to pump the water out”, she added.
Residents pointed out that several actions can be taken to alleviate the flooding and this included the replacing of a tube that drains water from the nearby trench to another that runs to the Hope Koker, with a larger one. It should also be raised as the current tube was set too deep, the residents said.
Also on the minds of some residents, was the need for them 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.
Meantime, water returned to the land in a few other areas on the East Coast Demerara. Parts of Buxton were covered with water yesterday.
Back in Duchfour, their shared ordeal has brought villagers closer together. A spirit of camaraderie has enveloped residents with each assisting each other as best as they could. Less affected persons have assisted villagers more heavily affected by the floodwaters by allowing their livestock to remain in their raised yards. One family had “taken in” another family, whose floor of their one flat house was totally covered in stagnant water.
Apart from prayers, these East Coast communities need to establish an organization that will look into their affairs be it security, disasters or anything that can boost their livelihood. Other than that nobody wouldn’t have time with them….if wasn’t for Stabroek News do you think we would have ever known this place was flooded?????????????
What organization, can these poor people establish that can look into their affairs? It’s a fact that their welfare is not being looked after properly, but that is why there is a Government.It’s their responsibility.
This is devastation,its a catastrophe no private organization in Guyana will have the means to facilitate assistance on such a wide scale.It’s the Government’s responsibility.It’s time they stop playing Government and start acting like a Government that cares for it’s people.
Based on this magnitude of flooding, that has severely affected the lives of these residents, I wish to suggest the following.
(1) That the government establish a committee to visit each household record the names of all the people affected with the aim of giving a monetary compensation package.
(2)That much needed medical supplies be distributed to each household.
(3)That a massive food distribution program be establish to cater for the immediate needs of the residents.
Guyana, as far as I can recall, has always given to its neighbours,and to those Caricom countries whenever there is a disaster.Unfortunately,I haven’t read of any assistance forth coming from any member of Caricom or perhaps Guyana doesn’t need it.
Chichester these 3 suggestions are basic, any self respecting gov’t would have been doing this!!! That’s right Chichester, GY does not need Caricom’s help! Why? How can a president, branded as a beggar of Caricom go begging Caricom? They (this government) has destroyed it’s link with Caricom. It is a matter of pride for this government now that they will not accept help, even if given freely, from Caricom. Squandermania has landed Guyanese in ‘puketary’. Is there any money in the national treasury? If there is; then why hasn’t this government come up with a relief programme after so many weeks? Is the opposition preventing the government from doing this? Is this government thinking of including the opposition in the decision making for any form of relief? Is the government waiting for the RDC 4 chair to resign before they release funds for the RDC to work with? The REO has been silent as a cat so far, the chairman is as nervous as a long tailed cat in room full of rocking chairs! As I see it, from all reports, this gov’t is just dragging it’s feet with a ‘wait-and-see’ attitude for political mileage. The elusive region 4, like GT, is up for grabs and Shylock is waiting with nervous hands on the purse strings just salivating over the thought of scooping voters and playing god!
“SandHurst First”, Since you are the “man” on the ground… have you figured out what you can do if you are so much interested in helping these people and Guyana on the whole.
BTW, how come we have not seen any pictures or read any article where the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) are helping these people like one would see here in the United States of America whenever there are disasters such as the flooding now being experienced in those low-lying communities in Guyana.
“G.D.F”????? Which organization you talking about?? I don’t what organization you talking about??
I am curious to know, when are Guyanese people going to say, enough is enough? And demand to be treated with respect, there is 21st century technology to prevent this, these images are disgraceful.
Didn’t the gov’t declare its readiness to deal with the floods? So what happened? I’m waiting for one more person to utter the words climate change.
- Chichester Neil
1. People will not forget 2005 and the pittance they received as compensation. They are not interested in that. They simply want the pumps and kokers fixed and the water off their land.
2. As far as I’m aware a few doctors were out and about – but I repeat – the residents simply want the pumps and kokers working so that the water can get off their land.
3. Don’t take your eyes pass them people. They ain’t hungry. The simply want the water ……..
Why have you not simply suggested that the government fix the koker – then all your other suggestions would be unnecessary. Or is it too much to ask that the koker be fixed? To ranted ……..
climate change…
…
…is irrelevant to the flooding
Wiffy,
They soon will be hungry and ill if this keeps up!
I think Chichester has valid suggestions. However, he failed to state a necessary measure: A GOVERNMENT BACKED RELOCATION PROGRAM TO HELP RESIDENTS MOVE FROM THESE BAYOUS!
Yes, The Government did declare that they are ready, willing
and able to deal with the flooding if and when it comes, they
also told us that they spend 1.7 BILLION DOLLARS in 2008 to
relleviate the flooding my friend Wiffy.
Wiffy, Sarkar,DMack and Chichester all of you should stop eating out your lives about what Gov’t. should or should not do..The RDC chairman should take the blame for this flooding fairly and squarely on his shoulders,,, Wiffy …the entire world around is being affected by climate change,,so why don’t you take some time and educate yourself on the effects climate change has in countries around you…I hate when you people migrate to other countries and then bad mouth Guyana,after all Guyana is home to all of you…You may be leading better lives where you are presently yes…but home is Guyana and you need to respect that.Regardless if PNC or PPP rule. The bottom line is PNC wrecked Guyana left, right and center and most of us run, it is slowly getting back its footing after the present administration had to spend 96 cents per every dollar earned to repay debts. Chichester your suggestions are for the Kidergarten children, the flood affected people are being compensated more than what you have in mind.
SOLDIER
dem people dont want to hear of what the pnc did to guyana and guyanese in the past…sn is feeding dem all they want to sit there and bash govt for all social ills of guyanese….let dem eat more fast foods and dash de baxes in trenches and drains..they are getting their just desreves….
Soldier… As Shrek said ‘What a load a cr..’!!! Obviously your head is buried so far that you cannot grasp the politics of the RDC. Understand this first before bashing the Chairman. Find out what is the role of the REO!!! I am in no way advocating that the Chairman does not have a share of the blame, but as it is in GT, the chair cannot be PNC and ‘Shylock’ is PPP, professionalism will take a backseat. Why make the PNC look good when I (Shylock) is PPP? Another thing, when this government does MORE good than bad then they will have their pound of flesh, in the interim the lashing will continue!!!
“I am waiting for one more person to utter the words climate change” Chichester Neil.I have commented several times about this flood and even suggested previously,that the government invite the Dutch,one of the masters of engineering to construct/reconstruct dams,dykes kokers etc.Nowhere in any of my writings did I say that climate change was responsible.
Perhaps, you should have taken the time to read my statements more carefully.
Secondly,it is common for any government with such a disaster to coordinate relief efforts for the people.They don’t have to be hungry and even if they are not, soon they would, because their entire lively hood has been affected.
Save the water for the drought crying will not help but prayers and community spirit surely will
This is worst than noah’s flood, lol.
lil bit wata in a low place and u calling om woss dan noah’s flood…dem kids havin a blast deh…tell us about your govt and what it did for the people of new orleans..and what you had to say then…
They are monitoring the situation ,that is enough for compensation that is why i encourage the wise youths of Guyana to run from there if the opportunity comes your way don’t get fooled by politicians in Guyana and become a mental slave for their personal gain secure your generation that is going to follow you by creating a better situation for them which Guyana do not have to offer in many years to come arise wake up and see the trend for so many years in Guyana generations of struggle we don’t need no more political promise we need action.
I am wondering how long it will take the government to start relocating people off the coast, even if by force (they do a lot of other things that way).
On second thought, maybe it’s exactly what they are doing…Passive resistance! Figure it out sheeple!
I am so sorry for the flood victims. But I see their strength at the same time Take care of yourself and stay out of the waters
what is corlette doing? stop blaming the govt. and get on with the program.
The stories emitting from these disaster areas bears witness to the collapse of all hope.In order to avoid the sufferings of families in the future,and calls for government action,the government should put a moratorium on all new buildings in this flood plain,and only approve buildings outside the area of flood zones.As a first step to minimizing future flood suffering,this action should be taken for all flood prone areas in Guyana.The population should be urged to resettle to higher ground.