Pumps deployed to Mahaicony as rising water continues to threaten residents, farms

– Sections of Kwakwani & surrounding communities under threat

Following President Dr Irfaan Ali’s visit to Mahaicony Creek, he promised residents that the Government would address the rising water levels. Two new pumps were installed at New Providence and Pine Ground, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice). Intense rainfall over the past several weeks has left hundreds of acres of farmland and households along Mahaicony Creek in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) severely affected.
President Ali, on his social media page, stated, “Following my recent visit to Mahaicony Creek and my commitment to residents and farmers, an additional drainage pump has now been installed and is operational at New Providence. This intervention forms part of the ongoing efforts to improve drainage and provide relief to communities affected by the unusually intense rainfall.”

He further noted that an additional 40-cubic-feet-per-second (40 ft³/s) drainage pump has been installed and is now fully operational at Pine Ground, Mahaicony Creek, adding that this is part of the immediate measures committed during his recent visit. However, Regional Chairman Recardo Phillips, when contacted on Saturday, related that water has receded in Moraikobai by about two feet, but water levels continue to rise in the Mahaicony River.
He said additional mobile pumps and excavators have been mobilised by the National Drainage & Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to ensure embankments are not breached. In a further update, he noted that the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has distributed 300 cleaning hampers to affected residents.
“The status of the rainfall and flooding is manageable. We are monitoring the situation. If there is any inconsistency or increase, we are aware of it and will put the necessary measures in place to counteract it,” he said. In Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Regional Chairman Devin Mohan reported that as of Saturday, heavy rainfall was recorded within the region, but there are currently no signs of flooding.

He nevertheless added that the authorities will continue to monitor the situation while noting that measures are in place to activate the region’s emergency plan. Over in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Regional Chairman Inshan Ayube, in a recent social media post, revealed that following the heavy downpour that began last month, some 2134 residents were affected by flooding.
However, he noted that this is no longer the case. “When the downpour started on the 29th of last month, by the 30th, we had 2134 residents who were affected. I am pleased to say with clarity, honesty, and truthfulness that, as of today, water has receded from all 2134 residents’ homes or properties, which is a great achievement because of the type of infrastructure work that was put in place and the work that will continue to be done,” he said. He explained that some farmlands in Canals One and Two are still underwater; however, the water is receding at a rapid pace, particularly with the easing of heavy showers experienced over the past few days.
He noted that this did not happen automatically, as several interventions were carried out during the period to support drainage and water management efforts.
The Regional Chair explained that the recent heavy rainfall highlighted several issues that need to be addressed, noting that many of the existing bottlenecks became visible during the flooding.
“This heavy downpour also gave us insight into what needs to be done. All the bottlenecks that presented themselves have now been identified, and I want to assure you that these will be addressed. I am not making any excuses, but some of these problems were difficult to detect under normal conditions. However, because of the heavy rain and the volume of water within the respective NDC (Neighbourhood Democratic Council) areas, we were able to identify several of the issues.”
He also mentioned that some residents had installed very small tubes across key drainage systems, which were unable to handle the volume of water, resulting in backflow that flooded residents’ yards. He said this issue will be addressed immediately.
He further noted that in some areas, residents have occupied drainage reserves, which has also affected operations. Despite having machinery on standby, he said timely access was restricted, limiting the ability to respond quickly to the situation. Meanwhile, in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), the Kwakwani Waterfront, Lamp Island, and Jeep Landing are experiencing yet another flood, reminiscent of the 2021 floods that displaced many residents for weeks.
In addition, information reaching the Guyana Times revealed that the water levels in the Berbice River continue to rise, with low-lying areas along the waterfront already inundated. Homes, businesses, and access roads have been affected, with residents reporting water entering yards and threatening property.