The residents of Hope/Dochfour are annoyed that the still under construction Hope Canal, which was supposed to help curb flooding, is doing the opposite.
This was the assertion by residents during a visit by a team from main opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Monday. The residents contacted APNU since they say the government has not been answering questions in relation to the canal.
When Stabroek News visited the area, there was a small hill of dirt that was dug out from the canal. The canal debris was placed on the berm that separates the residents from the canal.
Stabroek News observed the hill sloping into the community and the debris started to wash down into the residents’ yards.
One resident, Roy Kingston, said persons employed by the government began to dig out the canal and gave no proper reason for doing this.
The man said since the hill was formed, it runs off and floods the area because the water has nowhere else to go. In addition, Kingston said the project has damaged the Hope/Dochfour road and it is difficult for vehicles to use it. Kingston said the project has also damaged pipelines in the area and residents have not been able to get water for the past seven days.
He added that he and a few other residents had talked to Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy about their concerns in December and he had promised to keep them updated and involve the persons being affected by the project but so far nothing has been heard.
Joseph Harmon APNU’s Shadow Minister of Public Works said the coalition will do everything it can to get answers about the construction on the canal even though it has been locked out of Parliament due to the prorogation by President Donald Ramotar.
