Residents along the Ireng River have to relocate – Gorrido-Lowe

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs (MoIPA), Valerie Garrido-Lowe, said that as Government prepares to assist the residents who suffered the recent spate of flooding in Regions 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 8 (Potaro-Siparuni) and 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), those residing along the Ireng River in Region 8 would have to relocate.

The Minister made that statement at the Pakuri Heritage Day celebration on Saturday while addressing those in attendance.
She said that climate change is real, and in order to combat the effects of this natural occurrence, the residents along the Ireng River bank would have to move their homes and farms to higher grounds, because they live under constant threat

of flooding in those areas.
On May 17, 2017, residents of Kaibarupai, Waipa, Chenapau, Itabac, Kanapang, Kopinang and Sand Hill Settlement experienced severe flooding after prolonged heavy rainfall had lasted for approximately five days. The water in the Ireng River rose to more than 20ft and between 10 feet and 20feet in the villages, washing away a number of farmlands and homes. A total of 521 households were affected, with 56 washed away, dislocating those families, while 266 farms suffered severe damages. Additionally, several homes were affected in Region 7, with a number of persons being displaced.
In addition to the flooding, over the past month, there has been a number of freak

storms in the region, taking down homes and even resulting in the death of a pregnant mother.
The storms demolished a number of homes in Kako and Jawalla, while damaging several other buildings, including schools and businesses. The residents have since called for the construction of model storm-proof homes, to which Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford said they would be exploring the possibility.
“We have had some real suffering in Region 8, and people have to get back their homes, and the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, remains committed towards working with our people in Regions 7, 8 and 9 towards rebuilding,” Garrido-Lowe said.
“Climate change is real, climate change is happening, and we have to take action to protect ourselves from climate change; and it’s not going to stop. The world is shifting, and we have to try to live with that,” she added.
While addressing the gathering at the Heritage Day celebrations, the Minister said that it is the Government’s plan to bring real development to the indigenous communities, while bridging the gaps between the hinterland and coastland.
She said bridging of the gaps would provide for better opportunities for residents in the hinterland.
“In each hinterland region, we will have institutions like GTI (Government Technical Institute), because this is where the opportunities are not there for our youths. We would have a branch of the GSA (Guyana School of Agriculture) and we will also have — and it is in its planning stage — a branch of the University of Guyana, and that’s bridging the gap,” she revealed.
She added that one other aspect of bridging the gap is construction of the Linden-to-Lethem road, which is expected to provide easier access to the Region 9 village of Lethem. (Lakhram Bhagirat)