Region 6 unprepared for rains – acting Chairman

The average total rainfall recorded across Guyana between January and April was 150mm, with Bee Hive, Region Four, having the highest record of 381mm according to the Hydrometeorological office of the Agriculture Ministry.

Already for the month of May, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), has experienced 500mm of rainfall.
The region is predominantly agriculture-based and according to the Acting Regional Chairman, Dennis DeRoop, it is not prepared for the May-June rains.
This was told to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) when it met on Thursday.
Following the meeting, DeRoop told Guyana Times that the rains are already here but the region is unprepared. He, however, acknowledged that it is expected that the months of May and June will produce high-intensity rainfall.
DeRoop said that many of the outfall channels in the region are blocked while some are silted. Some of them are maintained by the Regional Administration but the major ones are maintained by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).
There are four major sluices across the region and fifteen small outfalls. The outfalls are maintained by the Regional Administration and one is outfitted with a pump to assist with quick drainage of the Fyrish area.
The four which are maintained by the NDIA are all equipped with drainage pumps, however, they are all silted and in some cases, the sluice doors cannot be opened because of siltation.
DeRoop said that the outfalls are at Lesbeholden, Liverpool, Adventure, Eversham and Number 43 Village.
“We are not seeing any preparedness for the rains at these outfalls channels.”
He said that the Regional Administration is concerned about the situation since they are aware that many farming communities would be flooded for days if there is continuous rainfall for one day.
“Especially the Black Bush Polder. Last year, we had a situation where the pump at Number 43 Village where we had to run the pump throughout the rainy season, every day all the time for almost three months to alleviate flooding in the Black Bush Polder,” DeRoop explained.
While the Hydrometeorological office predicts that this year there will be less rainfall when compared with the May-June period last year, DeRoop noted that the contractor employed by the NDIA to clear the Number 43 Village outfall did not complete the project.
“This time, however, it will be impossible for pumping because even around the pump is totally silted, so even though we have the pumps, if the heavy rains should come, we’ll have flooding.”
Asked whether the Regional Administration should be accountable for the current situation, DeRoop said no, explaining that it was the NDIA.
“Normally the region would have responsibility for all the pumps and all the outfalls in the region, a few years back the NDIA took over the major ones,” DeRoop said.
Meanwhile, on Friday the NDIA invited bids to be tendered for the clearing of the outfall channels and the clearing and repair of the sluices.
Only selective contractors were asked to tender for the contracts. (Andrew Carmichael)