OPPOSITION Leader Bharrat Jagdeo believes that much more could have been done to alleviate flooding in Region 5. He claims the “token” visit by Government officials to the region on Wednesday is not enough.

Speaking on Thursday at a press conference at Freedom House, the former President said he has observed that some callous statements have been made by the Ministry of Agriculture, suggesting that alleviation of the flooding in Region 5 is the responsibility of the Mahaica/ Mahaicony/Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) and not that of central Government.

“I hope the Government will try to understand what is happening: the hardships of people; they (should) be on the ground to render assistance to the people who are badly in need of assistance,” said Jagdeo, who served two terms as President.

The Opposition Leader also called on the administration to be balanced in its outreach to those affected, as Region 5 comprises supporters of all political parties.

“They should go to all the areas, to ensure the people receive support at this very difficult time,” he said. He noted that what he has observed in Region 5 does not augur well for its residents.

“It does not leave me, from what I have seen so far, in a hopeful mood,” Jagdeo said, as he noted that Government does not appear “serious about going ‘on the ground’.”

The Opposition Leader accused the Government of ignoring Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal and his many appeals to central Government.

“He has contacted the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), central Government, the MMA…wrote several letters, most of (which) were not acknowledged,” Jagdeo said.

Notwithstanding the treatment he received, Jagdeo said, Ramphal has visited several affected communities to get an understanding of what is taking place. He believes the reason Ramphal is having a difficult time is because he did not attend an event at which President David Granger was present, some months ago in Region 5.

“When I was President,” Jagdeo said, “I visited many regions, and the Regional Chairs did not show up (at) some of the meetings. We were not so thin-skinned, or (thought) we were so special, like the President thinks, to believe that everybody has to go to (our) meeting.”

Jagdeo believes the limitations facing Region 5 are preventing it from carrying out its duties. He said,
“…the region can’t carry out its programmes, its budget remains largely unspent; the money that is being spent is being spent by the Regional Executive Officer (REO) without the appropriate oversight. If the region was functioning, then we would have probably had a greater outreach.”

Asked what infrastructure was put in place while his party was in Government, the former president made reference to the Hope Canal, the construction of the Mahaica/Mahaicony road, and the installation of pumps.

“I am pleased with the efforts we made…but with all the efforts we made, we couldn’t stop flooding,” he said.

A ministerial team comprising Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Citizenship Minister Winston Felix, and Minister in the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, visited the flood-hit region on Wednesday to have a first-hand look at the situation obtaining in the region.
The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), in collaboration with the MMA/ADA, has deployed three mobile pumps, six tractor-operated pumps, and five excavators in the West Coast Berbice villages of Golden Grove, Lovely Lass, Trafalgar, No. 29, Union and Lichfield.

Two mobile pumps have also been deployed at Trafalgar, while the third is located at Bush Lot village. The mobile pumps can drain 1200 gallons of water per second.