Little Diamond river defence breach temporarily fixed – NDC

…80 households affected

Efforts have been successful in temporarily mending the defence structure at Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara – which collapsed last week and flooded many households.
The breach, which was reported on December 31, was fixed through collaboration from the Neighbourhood Democratic Council, National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Public Works Ministry and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).
Guyana Times spoke with Works Chairman at the NDC, Wilfred Bassant, on Monday, who stated that BK Group was contracted to construct a sluice in the said area. However, to facilitate such, part of the dam had to be excavated.
When the tides rose last week, the current structure could not withstand the waves and eventually collapsed. Some 80 families faced significant losses from the flooding.
“Over two years, the koker is in construction and because of how it was, part of the dam had to be excavated…So when the tides rose, the old revetments broke away. Over 80 residents were affected, so much that we had to call out the CDC to render assistance,” Bassant shared.
The official explained that this is just a temporary fix to the issue, and the contracted company is now tasked with completing the project. He said at the time of the incident, there were no machinery or employees on standby, which compounded the issue.
“I would say it’s a temporary fix because they have to do the revetment,” he told this publication.
After the flooding, Director of the CDC, Kester Craig gave an update that they were in the process of distributing flood relief hampers to the affected households in Little Diamond. In one section, 36 families received cleaning supplies and 44 more families had to receive theirs before the exercise concluded. At that time, the water was also receding.
Guyana’s defence structure, which primarily protects the coastland from high tides and flooding, would have seen several breaches in recent time. The Dantzig foreshore on the East Coast of Demerara breached last year, causing widespread flooding to both residential and farming communities.
At the time, rice farmers saw their fields being wiped out as saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean swept through the land. Cattle farmers had difficulty locating animals and many died. Cash crop farmers were also not spared and poultry farmers suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.
Many residential communities remained under water for weeks after spring tides. Some persons were forced to leave their home for months. (G12)