As rain continues to fuel flooding in Region Five, officials are working around the clock to bring the situation under control.
Chairman of Region Five, Vickchand Ramphal told Stabroek News yesterday that various communities are still under water, while others are under threat. According to Ramphal, “the region does not have the capacities to (drain) the area fast enough”.
Severe flooding was this week reported at Moraikobai in the upper reaches of the Mahaicony River. This will intensify flooding in the lower reaches of the Mahaicony, affecting a range of areas in Region Five.
Ramphal noted that the region depends on other agencies. He said that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) in collaboration with the Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary- Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) had promised a pump to the region, after a meeting held with residents on Tuesday. Ramphal confirmed yesterday, that excavators and pumps were deployed to various communities.
According to Ramphal, the canal and sluice at Trafalgar is heavily silted up and while a hydraulic pump was installed, it will be insufficient to handle the amount of water on the land currently. Ramphal relayed that he met with residents of Lovely Lass, Trafalgar and Union, where they vented their frustration at the situation. Ramphal said residents suffered loss of livestock and cash crops. He further said “At the regional level we do not have the resources to undertake those jobs, so we rely heavily on other organisations”.
A resident of Number 30 Village, West Coast Berbice stated that his village has been under water for two weeks now. Sanjay Ramlochan, 34, said “I lost layers, ducks, basically all me livestock”. The man opined that the regional officials have been giving him the “run around”. He said, “Every time me go, them a say we go look after it, we go look after it, “The koker here na function”, he added.
However, the chairman, subsequently gave an assurance, that the region is monitoring the situation and that health teams will be deployed in the affected areas.
