59 evacuated residents return as clean-up continues

Region 9 flooding aftermath

– assessment to go on for 2 more weeks

The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) is reporting that the 59 residents who were displaced by the recent flooding in the area have returned to their homes.
In a brief interview with Guyana Times on Sunday, Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock revealed that the cleaning continued as many of the roads in the area were damaged by the flooding, which occurred over the past several weeks. He said that a ‘core workers’ group was overseeing the Region’s clean-up efforts.
Allicock said that the water has completely receded, but observed that some farmers in the Region suffered losses, especially cassava crops. He, however, noted that many of the producers had taken precautions and harvested their crops when the flooding began.
“The Rio Branco (River) is not flowing back here into Guyana because of the dryness of the Amazon. We are monitoring the weather reports every day over in Brazil, but the rains are here with us, in the Kanuku Mountains,” he noted.
When asked about the financial damage assessment, he indicated that it would be too early to give a figure as to the extent of losses persons in the various communities suffered as the after-effects of the flooding were still being felt. This publication understands that this assessment would take into consideration the extent to which food security is being threatened in the Region by the losses which were incurred. He noted that in early July some 20 farms were inundated with over three feet of water.
Information obtained suggested that several farmers are engaging in dialogue with the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry with the aim of seeking compensation for their damaged crops. Allicock explained that the Region was encountering difficulty in reaching some of the far-flung communities owing to lack of access to communications technology. As such, the assessment will last for about two more weeks to ensure that the concerns of all in the Region get addressed.
The 59 residents who were evacuated from their homes for safety reasons were in shelters for about three weeks. Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, who is acting head of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), told this newspaper earlier this month that based on his knowledge, there were no reports of outbreak of diseases.
The flooding resulted from several rivers, particularly the Takutu River, overtopping because of heavy rainfall in the region and over in neighbouring Brazil, which had resulted in the overtopping of the Rio Branco. The CDC had delivered supplies which included water purification tablets, collapsible bottles, detergents and cleaning supplies, bedding and blankets.