Uitvlugt flood victims assess losses at $100M

By Rupdai Seenaraine

Residents of Uitvlugt on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) have assessed at some $100 million their losses following the phenomenal spring tide that breached the sea defence structure and invaded their community last Friday.
This was revealed by the Chairman of the Tuschen/Uitvlugt Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Vishal Ambedkar, who explained that this sum included the cost of damage to infrastructure.
When this newspaper visited the community on Monday, the floodwaters had

subsided and some persons had returned to their homes,
On Monday, the relief centre for flood victims set up at the Uitvlugt Secondary School was closed, and class sessions were back to normal. However, a similar relief centre set up at the village health centre was still open, and residents who were unable to return to their homes were using it.
Speaking with this publication during the visit, Ambedkar estimated that by the week’s end the NDC would be able to make a complete assessment of the immediate needs of affected persons. He explained that the flood had caused a lot of “distress” to the residents.
The NDC chairman noted that while temporary sea defence works are ongoing, should another high tide of that magnitude occur, the areas would again be flooded.
“We hope that the ministry would look at a long-term solution to the sea defence in

not only this area, but throughout the coastline,” Ambedkar said.
While the resources of the NDC are limited, there will be an emergency meeting today to request another $1 million for a clean-up exercise.
“It is necessary at this point in time that we get as much help as we can from the Central Government to address their concerns,” Ambedkar added.
Presently, the seawalls have been barricaded with sandbags, but villagers are afraid that the tide will rise again in the future.
The Public Infrastructure Ministry had revealed plans to improve the sea defence structure earlier this week. Action will be taken after a meeting is conducted between the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and NDC members in relation to the rebuilding of the infrastructure in the area.
Member of Parliament (MP) Mohammed Irfaan Ali, geographical representative for the People’s Progressive Party, has said the Opposition is working with a three-fold mandate which includes supporting the Government agencies, completing an assessment of the damages, and engaging the stakeholders of Government in relation to relief efforts.
He and the Uitvlugt/Tuschen Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) have tallied the estimated losses of Region 3 residents and have sent their findings to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson.
“There will be need for financial assistance based on our assessment, so that persons can have their livelihoods restored,” the MP told this publication.
Ali also stated that a letter which provided an update on the flooding, together with a list of emergency actions which should be taken to assist residents at the earliest opportunity, was sent to Minister Patterson.
Guyana Times saw a copy of the letter, which highlighted that the Tuschen-Uitvlugt area had received immense damage, and that many other villages in the area had suffered enormously from the flooding, thus damages should be assessed there as well. The villages mentioned included Hague, Cornelia Ida, Anna Catherina, Leonora and Stewartville.
The letter also stated that there should be immediate works conducted to elevate the sea defence structure by using rip-rap and repairing the damaged sections. The Opposition geographical representative also urged the Minister to examine the NDC’s assessment report, so as to assist those who would’ve lost their livelihoods.
On Friday, some 300 residents woke up to find their properties inundated as the waters of the Atlantic high tide vaulted the sea defence structure and invaded the community, demolishing fences, confiscating bridges, and destroying furniture and other household appliances as the ocean lay siege to a beleaguered community, forcing persons to leave their homes and take refuge in relief centres set up at various locations in the communities.