Floods hit Moccasin Creek, main access road impassable

Intense rainfall over the weekend has left several acres of vegetables under more than three inches of water in the community of Moccasin Creek on the Upper Corentyne River.
This farming area is home to more than 100 residents, half of whom are children. The main road in the village has been rendered impassable, and villagers are forced to wade through more than six inches of mud to get in and out of the community. Many children have not attended school for the term, and the only vehicles that could traverse the road are tractors.
During a visit to the area by this publication, Prenita Budwa, a mother of nine, who has been living in the area for the past 22 years, said it has been very difficult, especially for her children.
“Some of them are small. For this whole term I did not send them to school, because the dam is bad and the rain falling. If I send them and they fall down half-way, they will have to come back home; so I don’t send them,” she explained.
The Moleson Creek Primary School no longer functions.
The Regional Administration had taken a decision to close the school five years ago because no teacher had wanted to take up the appointment to work there. Children are expected to attend the Crabwood Creek Primary.
Suresh Prasad, another resident, has said the road is the most important infrastructure in the community.
“Every May/June this is the suffering here. One night my wife got sick and I had to get neighbours to fetch her out to get her to the hospital. We are having a very hard time in this place. I am glad if the Government could help we.”
He disclosed that his 8-year-old son had not attended school since April. “We can’t transport any produce from here,” Prasad added.
Still another resident, Jacklyn Thomas, a mother of three, has said that for the 37 years she has been in the village, “every rainy season you’re forced to endure the hardships”.
“I have two kids at school. I don’t let them go to school when the road is like this, because when they go out there they are not good for nothing. They would not be allowed in school. I went to the teacher and explained to her why they are not coming to school. It is not very easy for me,” she declared.
Rice farmers in the community are also being affected, the flood waters are damaging scores of acres of young rice plants. And cash crop farmers are calling on the Regional Administration to clear a canal which has been blocked, which they claim is the main contributing factor to flooding in the farming community.
Addressing the issue at the Regional Democratic Council’s statutory meeting on Thursday, Regional Vice Chairman Dennis DeRoop said the Regional Executive Officer (REO) has been made aware of the situation and request. He noted that the decision now rests with the REO.