As flooding worsens in Lovely Lass, Mahaica, Berbice, owing to a faulty pump that had been installed by the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), residents are disputing that the regional administration is making efforts to have the issue addressed.
Flooded parts of the community
Even though the issue has been ongoing for the past two to three weeks, the residents are convinced that the administration has turned a deaf ear to their plea to have the issue discussed with MMA/ADA.
In addition, downpours over the last few days have caused this situation to escalate to the point where the roads are now deteriorating, according to the residents.
Ernest Mona, one of the affected residents, reported to Guyana Times that in addition to the faulty pump, the general drainage in the area was in dire need of attention.
Both factors, he said, are contributing to the flooding, but there has been no work done to reduce the effects on the residents.
According to Mona, the residents had brought up the situation with the Councillors who reportedly informed that it was not their place to address the flooding.
It was further relayed to them that mechanical work was required to tackle the flooding, but the region was not in possession of the necessary machinery.
He said that residents who were living on the dams were feeling the full brunt since that part of the community was especially affected.
Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal confirmed that a solution was not in the hands of the region’s administration, since the pump had been placed at a strategic point by MMA/ADA.
“MMA has complete control over the pump, so there is nothing the council can do on its own to bring relief to the affected residents,” he said.
In addition, he pointed out that the area was generally prone to flooding so the effects were amplified as the pump malfunction continued to cause damage.
Ramphal informed that he had made contact with the MMA/ADA earlier this week which subsequently led to a visit by the entity’s engineering team.
However, they denied there was a fault with the pump and had since not visited the area for any further investigation, according to the Chairman.
Meanwhile, the residents are appealing for a partnership to be established between the administration and MMA/ADA so they can have some relief.
