Clogged drains, poor drainage lead to flooding in Region 2

Several businesses in the commercial centre at Anna Regina, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) were forced to close their doors as a result of flooding.

When Guyana Times visited Anna Regina early Tuesday morning, several businessmen were seen bailing water from their business places. Clothes and electronic equipment vendors at Anna Regina were also forced to close and secure their items as a result of excessive water.

According to one of the electronic vendors, when he opened his shop he noticed a considerable amount of water accumulated from heavy rainfall. He said he immediately started to sop water and move his transformer to higher grounds. Businessmen next to him were also seen doing the same.

Meanwhile, a drive around the town of Anna Regina revealed that several houses in the scheme were inundated with water. At Lima, residents remained under water and were counting their losses daily. According to several residents, the pump and sluice, although in operation, are not draining the lands fast enough. Many poultry pens and kitchen gardens are currently flooded.

At Queenstown village, some houses are under water. Residents were seen in the floodwaters and according to them, several of their drainage trenches are clogged with overgrown bushes. Like the Lima residents, Queenstown residents are counting thousands of dollars in losses.

In the extreme south of the Essequibo Coast in areas such as Golden Fleece, Suddie, Good Hope and Vilvoorden, there was a high accumulation of water in the drainage trenches. Rice farmers are very worried and many of them are calling for the access dams in their respective areas to be rehabilitated.

Region Two has been experiencing high intensity rainfall, but poor drainage compounded with clogged drainage trenches has led to flooding.