Region Six Chairman, David Armogan recently stated that Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) has been severely affected by the continuous rainfall.
He noted that the continuous rain has severely impacted the lives of farmers due to flooding. On this note, he stated that the current drainage and irrigation system was designed to take off two inches of rainfall within a 24-hour period but the amount of rain over the past month has surpassed that.
One section of Black Bush Polder under water last year
The Black Bush Polder, which was inundated during the last few days in 2020, had recorded a drop in water level but with the prolonged heavy downpours, the water level is again increasing.
According to Armogan, most of the cash crops have been damaged due to flooding. On Thursday last, the Regional Chairman was hopeful that the water level would continue to drop.
Regional Chairman David Armogan
However, Joanna and Yakusari were affected the most. Farmers had complained that water from the Cookrite Savannah was being released into the canals that drain the Polders.
This, they said, was one of the main causes of flooding at Yakusari.
During a visit to the community on December 29, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustafa had promised that the tubes which had been installed to drain water from the Cookrite Savannah would be removed so that the Savannah would not be draining into the Polders.
But Armogan stated that evidence proved that the water is still being drained from Cookrite Savannah into Black Bush Polder.
“The Minister had asked that we close some of those tubes so that the water from the Cookrite Savannah would not be pushed into the Black Bush Polder area. That is not an easy thing to do because as soon as you block it, in the night they open it again and the next day you block it and the night they open it again. So, unless we can get Police there on a 24-hour basis that will be the only way we will be able to control it. We have tried all our best to control it and unfortunately was soon as we close it they open it during the night so water comes back into the system again,” the Chairman revealed.
Cookrite Savannah was established for the rearing of cattle.
Unfortunately, due to the increase in rice price, many cattle farmers have resorted to cultivating rice in that area. Currently, efforts are being made to drain water out of the Cookrite Savannah for the survival of both animals and rice crop.
Armogan explained that a total of seven excavators are currently working in the Black Bush to bring some relief to the farmers and residents.
“In terms of drainage work, we are making sure that all canals and especially the drainage canals to make sure that they are cleaned so that the waterways can be clean and the water can flow to the sluices and to the pumps because if we have blockages it means that we will have impeded flow into the pumps and the sluices. If this happens, even though the pumps and sluices are working, enough water will not be taken to them.”
The sluices are operated based on the tide. When the tide is not appropriate for the opening of the sluices, the pumps go into operation.
