Pomeroon farmers call for relief as millions in crops damaged

Flooding in Region 2

…no reports of waterborne diseases

Cash crop farmers along the Upper and Lower Pomeroon River in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), who are affected by prolonged flooding in their communities, are soliciting relief in the form of fertilisers, chemicals and other planting materials.
Guyana Times understands that the farmers had invested millions of dollars in their crops, but those are all now under floodwaters. As a result of the severe flooding, due to heavy downpours, officials of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) are assessing the situation with the aim of lending the farmers support.
Region Two Executive Officer (REO) Devanand Remdatt has disclosed that the water has begun to recede, but he said there are some areas where the water continues to inundate the land. He said the water could become contaminated and eventually result in the spread of waterborne diseases.
Further, Ramdatt related that the Toshaos of the affected villages have requested that a document be drafted with respect to the impact of the floods. They would forward that document to the Agriculture Ministry, and by extension the Government, for assistance.

Ramdatt, however, has said the Regional Administration is monitoring works being done by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) in Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast and in other areas. The remedial works are expected to prevent the recurrence of flooding in the future.
Ramdatt has declared that there are no reports of significant flooding along the Essequibo Coast, since the sluices and drainage pumps are working around the clock.

Regional Health Officer Dr. Ranjeev Singh has confirmed that there has been no report of any outbreak of waterborne disease resulting from the floods.
Dr Singh has said a medical team is currently on a three-day outreach to several Amerindian communities along the Pomeroon River, to provide medications in case of a possible outbreak of such diseases.
Dr. Singh explained that residents of Siriki, Kabakaburi, Abrahams Creek, St. Minica/Karawab and Lilydale have been fully educated on means to treat waterborne diseases.

He added that the Regional Environmental Officers would ensure that medicines, ointments and other medications are available at the various health posts in case persons begin suffering from rashes, diarrhoea, vomiting, or other flood-related illnesses.
“I advised residents, especially in the most affected areas, to continue to practice good hygiene; boil water before use, or add chlorine into drinking water, and also practice foot-baths on a daily basis. However, more detergents and chlorine will be sent by the Ministry of Health to affected communities in the Pomeroon River. The Regional Health Service will ensure that the region has adequate medical supplies on hand in an event of an outbreak,” Dr. Singh added.
The medical outreach would continue until Friday.