Vandalized Trafalgar pump back in service

The pump at Trafalgar, West Berbice which had been vandalized last month is back in operation, bringing relief to flood-affected residents of No. 28, No. 29, No.30 and other villages.

The residents who said the floodwaters had remained on their land even though the rain had stopped, suffered losses to their crops and livestock, their main sources of income. The water quickly receded after the pump was fixed over the weekend.

Seaton Downer points to a spot on the dam that was breached and has since been sealed.

General Manager of the  Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary-Agriculture Development Authority (MMA/ADA), Aubrey Charles had told Stabroek News that vandals had stolen the electrical cables.

He had said too that while they were “trying to improve drainage some people were trying to make things difficult…”

The pump had been refurbished and rehabilitated at a cost of millions of dollars in 2007 but no security guard was placed at the location.
Almost three years ago, residents had also complained that the rehabilitated Trafalgar pump was not working even though they were in a deep flood. According to SN of February 11, 2008 residents of Number 29 Village opined that had the two pumps at Trafalgar that were restored been in operation while the sluice was closed they would not have suffered such serious losses. Observers say the fact that the Trafalgar facility is down at crucial times points to the need for better management.

This newspaper learnt that shortly after the recent vandalism, the sluice attendant’s service was terminated. Residents questioned how that was done when the attendant was not being paid to secure the pump.

An official from MMA said that a new sluice attendant has been appointed as well as a security guard for the pump.

The official said too that an excavator “is doing work in the area to ensure that the system is properly monitored.” The work included the installation of two tubes along the No. 29 school dam to assist residents in the No. 30 area.

A resident of No. 30 Village, Seaton Downer told this newspaper yesterday that when the heavy rain started the dam at No. 29 Village was breached.

He woke up to the sound of water gushing into his yard and his chicken pen collapsing. Fifteen of the birds died in the process and he went down into the water to save the others.

Some of the children got sick but Downer said a medical team visited the area and treated them.

The breach in the dam has since been fixed and the official said that there were also “two other breaches in the area which have been sealed.”

Meanwhile, a team of women from Tempe Village visited Regional Chairman, Harrinarine Baldeo yesterday to complain about the losses they suffered during the flood.

They told this newspaper that several residents lost poultry and other livestock, “setting eggs” and their kitchen garden.

They said that the level of the water in the “main canal and the village was one because the water was flowing over the dam. Residents were catching fish in their backyards.”

The pit latrines were also overflowing. According to them, “a woman lost 15 piglets after they were dropped in the water.”

Baldeo said that the No. 29 Village area is the “basin of Region Five and the water from the backlands would go there.” There is only one façade canal that provides drainage while there are three sluices at Profitt, Onverwagt and D’ Edward Village.

He noted too that if the pump at Trafalgar “was working it would have brought faster relief. Government spent millions of dollars to put the pump into operation but it was vandalized.”

Abary Creek

Residents of Abary Creek are still concerned about water being on their land even though the rain has stopped. They said the stagnant water already has a “funny smell.”

Mahase Prahalad said lots of the residents’ calves, ducks and fowls are dying and they have lost their kitchen garden. He said the cows were “dropping in the water and the calves dying.”

He noted too that the “river front silt up and the only way for the water to come out from this creek is if they clear it.”
He pointed out too that residents have rice that is almost ready to reap and it is under water.  Promises were made to fix the access road to the creek but it was never done and it is getting worse.

He said too that a team from the Ministry of Agriculture has promised to visit the creek but residents are still looking out for them.

Pinky Hugh, 29, a mother of five said the water is still in her kitchen and she had to move her kerosene stove to her upper flat to cook. She is also unable to use her fireside.

She said she was hardly finding high spots for her livestock and most of them have to be in the water. Two of her lambs have already died.
Monica Seegobin, 24, said she had to send her livestock away from her home to a vacant lot while her fowls were “sleeping on a shed.” She has to keep her three children indoors.

Another housewife, Vanita Sookdeo, 29 who has two children said although her pit latrine is on a “high spot” it is surrounded with water and she has to access it with a boat.

The three women also said that they have to use a boat from the dam to get to their homes.