…thousands affected by unusual rainfall – PM Phillips
Unusual heavy rainfall over the past days have resulted in half of the administrative regions across Guyana experiencing floods that have affected some 5900 households.
This was revealed on Sunday by Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, who is leading a Cabinet-level Taskforce activated by President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday to respond to the current rainy season. The Prime Minister on Sunday held the first meeting to discuss flash floods across the country.
Attending that meeting were Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, Director of the CDC Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, and heads and representatives of key agencies involved in the flood response.
The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) reported on Sunday that coastal communities in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Five (Mahaica-Berbice) recorded the highest accumulated rainfall over a 24-hour period ranging between two to six inches. This is according to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Hydrometeorological Service, which had predicted even more intensive rainfall Sunday night into this morning in Regions One to Three and parts of Region Four.
Nevertheless, Prime Minister Phillips held a press briefing after that meeting during which he disclosed that 23 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) across the country have reported floods that affected some 5900 households across Regions One to Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
Concern about Region 2
However, he noted that the major concern is Region Two, where the CDC reported that some 600 households along the Pomeroon River are inundated with at least one of them needing to be evacuated.
Moreover, the CDC is urging livestock farmers to remain vigilant, find alternative grazing pastures and to elevate their pens, if possible, to protect the animals. Additionally, cash crop farmers are being encouraged to harvest their crops early.
Guyana Times was told that several acres of farmlands located in the Lower Pomeroon are currently flooded due to excessive rainfall over the past few days.
According to cash crop farmers in the Pomeroon, their lands have been underwater since the prolonged rainfall started earlier this month. Several low-lying areas in the lower and upper Pomeroon have approximately one foot of water on the land, this newspaper was told.
The farmers say that the floodwaters in their farmlands are not receding as a result of the continuous rainfall.
One farmer residing in the Pomeroon related that his farmland is located in a low-lying area and every time it rains continuously, his land is submerged.
The flooding has affected both farmers and residents in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region.
Meanwhile, Region Two Vice Chairman, Humace Oodit said a team from the regional administration has been dispatched to the Pomeroon River to assess the situation. He said that based on that assessment, the necessary recommendations will be made.
Not passed the worst
But according to Prime Minister Phillips on Sunday, this might not be worst of the current rainy season.
“We have not passed the worst,” he said adding that in addition to rainfall expected Sunday night into this morning, the Hydromet Office has also forecast even more continuous rainfall throughout today that could possibly lead to floods.
However, he added that “while all the pumps in Region Four are working and we’re able to get the water off the land in due course… when we open the sluices and so, we also have to continue to monitor what will happen over the next 48 hours because rainfall is still threatened. So, we are not out of any danger yet”.
In light of the expected continued flooding due to the unusual rainfall expected during this time, the Prime Minister is urging citizens to take necessary precautionary steps to prevent floods, especially at their homes and other premises.
Meanwhile, RDCs across the country have been taking a series of interventions such as clearing outfalls and ensuring that pumps are operational to alleviate floods. Assistance is also being provided by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), which is keeping all major drainage canals clean and clear.
However, authorities are also imploring with residents to play their part in ensuring that their surrounding drains are clean as well.
Prime Minister Phillips stated that while some NDCs have taken steps ahead of this rainy season, some of these local organs failed to properly prepare.
Regardless, the CDC’s Kester Craig explained that because of the prolonged intense rainfall in short periods, it is proving difficult to drain the flood water quickly.
Nevertheless, the CDC continues to work along with the various agencies including RDCs to ensure that necessary systems and responses such as emergency shelters are in place for those in need.
Ministers in communities
In response to the flood situation, several Government Ministers on Sunday fanned out across the country to visit communities that were inundated to have a first-hand look at the impact.
“A number of Ministers visiting different parts of Guyana doing their own assessments and that information is being used by the Taskforce to determine our next course of action in the next 48 hours… But we are in far better place now than we were six months ago,” the Head of the Cabinet Taskforce contended.
He was referring to the unprecedented May-June floods that saw over 20,000 households affected and hundreds of acres of farmlands being destroyed.
This current rainy season comes as many are now recovering from that mid-year devastation.
The PPP/C Government had employed a series of relief measures including $7.8 billion in cash grants to affected persons including farmers and households.
Meanwhile, only Saturday, President Ali appointed the Cabinet-level Taskforce to respond to the current rainy season and potential flood impacts across Guyana.
The Task Force will work in tandem with all local authorities to ensure that all response and mitigative systems are in place and functional. These systems will include, but are not limited to, all working sluices; kokers; and drainage systems.
According to the President, the aim is to make certain that there is a proactive and coordinated response to the current rainy season with the intent to safeguard livelihoods and property.
In addition, all administrative regions are mandated to regularly update the Task Force (at 12-hour intervals) on any and all impacts. Reports are to describe the communities affected, types of impacts and the measures being taken by response and technical entities.
The Task Force comprises of the Prime Minister as Chair, and authorities such as the Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Minister of Housing and Water, the Civil Defence Commission’s (CDC) Director General, Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Chief of Staff, the National Security Advisor, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority’s (NDIA) Chairman, and the Chief Hydrometeorological Officer.
At the time, it was reported that continuous rain and thunderstorms were predicted across the entire coastland and parts of Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) will see scattered showers intermittently.
Residents countrywide are advised to remain vigilant and take all necessary flood precautions. Also, they are encouraged to report any impacts to local authorities or the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) on 600-7500 at any time. (G8)
