The Providence, East Bank Demerara koker door collapsed yesterday at approximately 2 am causing damage to hundreds of households in the area and triggering recriminations over who should be held responsible.
Stabroek News visited the area yesterday afternoon and spoke with residents who said that several complaints had been lodged with the Eccles/ Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) for the koker door to be replaced but no action was taken. They related that the village is also without a pump station and when it rains, they are affected because of the constant flooding and poor drainage facilities. Additionally, letters were sent to the Office of the President but to date, they have not received any response on the issue.
In an interview with Stabroek News, Leena Boodhai recalled, “Abeh deh in abeh bed and hear de man ah run through the street and wake up all body and seh koker break! koker break! Pon 2 o’ clock me deh out meh bed to put up meh fridge pon de step from salt water. Water high high in meh house, meh fencing get a watermark. This thing really ah affect abeh bad bad with this koker, and if yuh see mud pon ah concrete thick thick. This is the second time this koker break, last time he bin moh bad – wah really ah go on? Some people had water till ah them waist and last time government share money when koker break and give some and left some all abeh affected, not some, all.”
Leslyn Cupidore explained, “This morning I deh sleeping and hear me sister seh flood, I did dizzy you see when I open meh eye if you see water, I grab them children [because] the water cover de bed. All the mattress soak, them children ain’t get no mattress to sleep pon. The fridge… if you see how them thing float and gone outside. Them children school shoe float away them ain’t get to go to school today, three adults and three children living here. I start spin around to see what I can grab like my documents and by that time you know is more water. The water go down like around 6 a clock.”
Another resident, Indira, said, “De man holler seh koker break, water went knee height fuh me, all meh wardrobe and suh wet up, since 3 o’ clock abeh deh up, we nah cook yet. 2015 ah de same thing happen. Girl meh nah know why them people nah look after this thing and when rain fall water come, flood again inside de house. We get poor drainage hay, the trench ah back blank off by the company abeh nah know wah them a build there. Where abeh water going ehh? Abeh send message to the presidency [but] nobody nah look after abeh, steady abeh ah get this, steady… rice all does wet up. We asking for a pump look how long them seh pump ah come from India. When it ah go reach? This village nah get pump, them people ah back swamp up [as] them had more water. None body nah come to this village fuh check us but yuh see when a voting time everybody know fuh come but we waiting.”
Stabroek News met Councillors, Chairman of the Works Committee and the Vice Chairman of the Eccles/Ramsburg NDC at Providence. They explained that they were informed by the residents about the koker and decided to visit with cleaning agents such as bleach, soap powder, disinfectants, and more. They said that a new koker door is being built and would be installed before the day is out. A pump would also be put in place to drain some of the excess water off the land to ensure that what occurred does not repeat itself. A representative of the Civil Defence Commission was also present to assist with the distribution of cleaning agents.
The Ministry of Agriculture said that at approximately 2 am yesterday the sluice door developed a breach resulting in flooding in some parts of the area.
Over 200 households in Providence and Peters Hall were said to be affected by flooding, with the lower flats of these houses being inundated, a release from the ministry said.
After learning of the incident, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and other senior officials and engineers attached to the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) visited the area to conduct an assessment at approximately 3:45 am.
“At around 2:00 am this morning, the koker door at Providence collapsed resulting in our officers immediately mobilizing resources to seal the breach. A contractor was also engaged and installed stop logs until a new stainless-steel door is fabricated and installed to replace the damaged wooden door. A pump will also be on site until the new door is installed. Additionally, the stop logs will be operated during the low tide to facilitate gravity drainage to complement the pump,” Mustapha said, according to the release.
Mustapha further said that the Region Four Council is responsible for maintaining the structure, adding that it appeared this was not being done regularly.
“The operation and maintenance of this structure fall under the RDC. From my observation, the structure was not being maintained as it should be. I will now have to sit with the NDIA and the other authorities to determine a way forward. We cannot continue like this so the NDIA may have to assist with operating and maintaining this structure as well. We cannot have the lives and wellbeing of our citizens threatened because those in charge are neglecting their responsibilities,” he added.
