Administrative officials of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have said that works are ongoing to alleviate flooding in the region, which has been caused by persistent rainfall and high tides.
Regional stakeholders meeting at the Region 2 RDC boardroom to discuss challenges farmers and residents are facing
Examinations conducted at several pump stations, including at Taymouth Manor, Anna Regina, Devonshire Castle and Charity, have found all pumps operable. According to regional officials, Region Two has 20 pumps, and all are operable. Four of those pumps were recently repaired by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).
A Pomeroon farmer standing waist high in water in his farm
Region 2 Executive Officer Devanand Ramdatt has since said that money has been approved to purchase more fuel to enable the pumps to continue working while the flooding continues in the region. He had requested $6.7M from the Finance Ministry for the purchase of fuel, and that request has been approved.
Ramdatt has said that, currently, several mini excavators are assisting to execute drainage and irrigation works along the Essequibo Coast. Several communities along that Coast have experienced flooding due to heavy rainfall and, in some cases, extreme high tides. This has resulted in accumulations of some four to five feet of water in some communities, especially at Karawab, Kabakaburi and in the Pomeroon.
Pomeroon farmlands under water
This newspaper has been told by Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oodit that communities in the Pomeroon River remain under water, but the water is receding slowly. Several regional officials revisited the area on Wednesday to conduct further assessments
of the situation.
Losses
This newspaper has been told that livestock farmers in the Pomeroon are counting their losses. Many farmers had invested millions of dollars in livestock, but several have had their investments affected by the floodwaters. Farmers most affected are at Jacklow, Upper Pomeroon River.
Additionally, over 100 head of cattle and 200 sheep have contracted sickness in the stagnant water, while a large-scale poultry farmer with over 2000 meat birds has been adversely affected.
Relief supplies hampers being taken to flood affected Region 2 communities
“As for me, it is heart-touching to see farmers grieving for their losses… many farmers invested millions of dollars on their farms, and were excited to see them bloom, and now that the rain is pouring heavily in the country while the high tide steps in, it covers their entire farmland, leaving tall coconut trees alone standing.
“It is a difficult time for me as well, my farm is also inundated…I lost my crops, even some small coconut trees toppled as the soil washed away,” Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva told this publication.
Flood relief
Meanwhile, the Region Two Flood Relief Committee, in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council, continues to distribute food hampers to residents in Pomeroon. They have managed to distribute 1650 relief hampers to residents in affected areas.
According to REO Ramdatt, efforts have been made to bring food hampers and cleaning detergents to scores of families within the affected areas. He said hampers have been donated to families in all Amerindian communities, including Pomeroon, Kabakaburi, Mainstay, Bethany and Karawab. Additionally, over 300 hampers have been donated to residents of Charity Squatting Area.
Medical facilities
Regional Health Officer (RHO) Dr Ranjeev Singh is currently on a three-day visit to communities in the Pomeroon River, where he is conducting a health assessment of flood-affected communities to assess the situation and provide treatment to needy residents.
Dr Singh disclosed that health officials would be in several Amerindian communities to educate affected residents on proper sanitation, how to conduct foot baths, and also how to treat water. He said this would aid in eliminating water-borne diseases. He also said medical outreaches are conducted so that ointments can be given to persons if they have rashes etc. He, however, has asked that parents keep their children indoors, and prevent them from getting into contact with the contaminated floodwaters.
Challenges
On Monday, the Region Two administration held a meeting with Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) overseers, village councillors and major stakeholders to discuss challenges farmers and residents are facing with the existing weather conditions in the region.
Speaking at that meeting, Toshao Monty Simon of Kabakaburi related that more than 150 persons residing in the community are severely affected. He said the water has receded, but rises at different periods, due to high tides. Further, the koker in the village is not operable, and lands remain under water.
The regional administration has decided to assist affected communities by donating tubes for the building of defence dams, besides cutlasses, hoes and other necessities to several farmers. Moreover, an environmental health team would be dispatched to the affected communities to educate persons on the effect of the floods on their health and to monitor residents’ health.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Livestock Development Authority has revealed that a team was out in the field to gather firsthand information. Based on reports, from West Berry to Pomeroon, parts of Bounty Hall, New Road and Charity have been flooded, while from Henrietta to Dartmouth and parts of Richmond, Lima Sands and Hampton Court have also been affected. However, the floodwater receded as a result of operable pump stations.
Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva has said that flooding has a negative economic impact on farmers’ lives, and a team will work diligently to assist residents and farmers to maintain and clean blocked access drains.
She said the region would work more collectively towards development, and, as such, would ensure that people are not further affected.
“Economic spin-off benefits every Essequibian…so let us work together and ensure that the region looks good and residents are comfortable,” De Silva has said.
