As the rainy season continues to hit communities throughout Guyana, residents of Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara on Friday took to the streets to express their dilemma, brought on by a clogged canal which has been affecting their livelihoods for a number of months.
Despite prolonged outcries over the blocked channel, several residences and public conveniences are now under water as a result of the lack of much needed
A section of the clogged channel which left the nearby areas under water
drainage in a time of heavy downpour.
With the main drainage covered in thick vegetation, the water continues to back up into the community, even making its way into villages nearby.
When Guyana Times visited the area on Friday, a number of homes, a school, a temple and several business establishments were among those affected by this backlogging.
Speaking with this publication, Robert Ramdass, the community’s representative on the Neighbourhood Democratic Council, explained the frustrating situation under which the residents are forced to live.
“The problem we are faced with is that this trench is overcrowded (with vegetation), and it is flooded and the pumps are not working. It’s been like that for several weeks,” relayed Ramdass.
The councillor went on to say, “We keep raising the issue at the NCD level and all they keep telling us is that they gonna fix it. They engaging the attention of the Ministry of Infrastructure but nothing is being done.”
The concerned resident even indicated that, as a result of the flooding, students are being deprived of an education, given that the nearby Plindola Nursery School
The nursery school was closed as a result of the flooding in Ogle
is unable to conduct regular classes. Ramdass further highlighted that while the Council was meeting on Wednesday, a caiman emerged from the clogged canal, thereby underlining the threats of the unmaintained facility.
“As such, I’m appealing to the Government to do something about this trench here, because it is really bad for the school children. More importantly – and that’s what we’ve been stressing at the NDC level – all they’re doing is promising, and nothing else,” the councilor declared.
Also expressing her plight to the Guyana Times was Lilouttie Singh, a woman who has been residing in Ogle for over 50 years. “Because of this trench, and the pump not working, my house fulla water,” the troubled woman explained. As a matter of fact, Singh noted that the flood has left her no choice but to seek refuge at a nearby residence. She is now reliant on her sister to provide her family with meals.
The clogged canal which has left the community of Ogle under water once again was said to be the property of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuSo). However, the waterway is reportedly now under the commission of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), and has since been left in a deplorable state. As such, the affected residents are calling on the relevant authorities to pay heed to their appeals so as to prevent further losses.
