High tides swamped the Parika stelling, East Bank Essequibo late yesterday afternoon, flooding the area around the police station.
The tides, reportedly the highest in the area in over four years, managed to displace vendors and made crossing the stelling difficult for those travelling on foot. The tides swept in at approximately 4:30pm and flooded the area for close to a half hour. High tides are currently in effect.
One taxi driver told Stabroek News that push carts “were making a killing going back and forth with people piled in…Charging people
$100 for a drop”. He was in good spirits however stating that the flooding didn’t last very long, but noted that it was a nuisance especially for police and persons who would have needed to visit the police station.
This newspaper was told that officers made makeshift passageways quickly to facilitate anyone who would need to visit the police station. The weigh station was compromised, but only for a short time and vendors who spoke with Stabroek News stated that the tides washed away rather quickly so that business being conducted at the stelling was not seriously affected.
Another man stated that “nobody expecting the water to come so high, some didn’t know about the high tide so it comes as surprise”. He continued that as soon as it came in “it was gone, as fast as it come it gone.”
He stated that the high tide was expected again today and tomorrow which meant that vendors would make arrangements to-night.
When this newspaper spoke with vegetables vendors it was told that the floodwater was shallow and that it did not reach perishable goods. Stabroek News understands that vendors have not seen this high level of water in the area for a number of years.
A high tide warning is currently in effect.
