…to aid relief efforts of affected residents

AUTHORITIES are exploring the possibility of constructing a dam or digging a canal to provide relief to flood-affected residents of certain communities in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

Two weeks ago, farmers and the average resident of communities within Region Five were affected by flooding which was caused by a breach in the sea defence at Dantzig.
Although it was reported that authorities are working to repair the sea defence, residents of Dantzig, Rebecca’s Lust, Fairfield, Harmony Hall and some other communities are still affected by flooding.

“We are trying to deal with the situation… engineers have to talk to residents so that we could get their consent to build a dam or dig a canal,” said Government Member of Parliament (MP), Jennifer Wade, in an invited comment on Thursday, adding that government is working to provide a solution to the problem.

In a past report, Wade had said that government was aware of the situation and systems were being put in place to deal with the effects of the breach. “Although we are now working to alleviate the problem, we were aware of the situation before and we had put systems in place, but the contractor did not do the work urgently so the unfinished work got caught with the high tide.

“I am very perturbed by what is going on…we had made the money available but the contractor could not finish the work,” said Wade.

Residents, who were in some level of distress, said they would welcome the construction of a dam or canal because they have suffered countless losses since the flooding started. “Water still in my yard…it started to recede two days ago, but yesterday it started raising back,” said Keith McGarrell, a resident of Rebecca’s Lust.

McGarrell said he lost his small garden and other equipment because of the inundation. His sentiments were echoed by his neighbour, Annika Bissoon, who said that she had lost most of her furniture and appliances during the flood.

Although most of the water had receded from Bissoon’s yard, she said it is beginning to rise again, so she is fearful. A resident of Harmony Hall, Winston (only name given), said he lost all of his fruit trees due to the lodging of salt water.

“All my trees dead out… I ain’t know if I gone be able to plant back because of the salt water, but I trying something…I hope that the water hold off,” said Winston.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder, during his remarks at the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB)’s Open Day, said over the last weeks, agricultural communities (cash crops and rice) of Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six have faced flooding due to overtopping and in some cases breaches, in the sea defence by the high tides.

“Please be on the alert to assess and adjust on a continual basis to these climate change issues. Therefore, going forward, the sea defence structures will have to be improved along with an expansion of the industry to higher ground,” said Holder.

It was reported that the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) had deployed a five-person team to the communities of Dantzig, Columbia, Glazier’s Lust, Fair Field, High Dam and Propect to assess the situation and render much-needed assistance.

“A rapid assessment in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council, Region Five, was conducted across the communities and found that seven families experienced floodwaters in their homes. It was noted that several small scale subsistence farms, livestock, including poultry, were severely affected. Further, over 10 rice cultivated plots were inundated with saltwater,” the CDC Director-General, Kester Craig said, as he gave a synopsis of the situation on the ground.

Cognisant of the effects floods could have on the health of communities and villages, the Ministry of Public Health issued an advisory on Sunday calling on citizens in the affected areas to take precautionary measures, and pay keen attention to their health, personal hygiene, vector control, food and water safety to avoid waterborne illnesses.

“If you are living in flooded areas, stay out of the floodwater as much as possible, as it can greatly reduce your chances of contracting diseases such as skin irritation, skin infection, Leptospirosis, diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases,” the Public Health Ministry urged.
It explained that direct contact with floodwaters can expose persons to several germs that can lead to any of the named diseases.

“Keep children especially out of the water as they are most at risk of contracting diseases. Avoid swimming in canals and trenches. During the rainy season and floods, these become contaminated by both human and animal faeces and can make you sick,” it further warned.
Use of protective gears is key for those persons who are required to venture out into floodwaters, the ministry said. These gears include long boots, gloves and eye protection.
“Prepare a foot bath of half cup of bleach to one bucket of water and wash your feet before entering the house. Apply Vaseline or oil to your skin as it forms a barrier and provides some protection from the dirty salted water,” the Public Health Ministry advised.