By Alva Solomon

WHILE World Wetlands Day was celebrated globally on February 2, dry weather conditions in the Rupununi , a designated wetland, has resulted in the administration of several schools scouring the landscape for sources of water.Over the past three days, overcast conditions have developed over the region, with light rainfall in some villages south and north of Lethem. However, dry conditions are expected to continue to affect the communities in the region over an indefinite period.
Monday, reports out of St Ignatius indicated that the students who are resident in the dormitory at the secondary school in the community have been sourcing water in recent days from the Moco Moco creek. This is mainly for bathing and washing. The students who reside there are mainly from the South and Deep South Rupununi. St Ignatius resident Tekwitta Barrito reported Monday that a well was being dug near the school compound to enhance the school’s water supply.
Regional Executive Officer (REO), Carl Parker said that the regional administration is on call to assist schools and by extension communities in need of potable water. Parker, who is presently on the Coastland, said that so far one school, the Kumu Primary School , has made requests to the regional authorities for assistance with water and filled-water tanks have been dispatched periodically to supplement the supplies there. At the moment the water in the Kumu Creek is low and the Kumu Falls is not flowing as usual, signs of the effects of the El Nino phenomenon.
Across at Annai , students have been fetching water from waterholes in and around the villages near Annai Central. The Annai Secondary School and households there have depended on the water-network within the community for water. However, in recent weeks, those pipes have been empty.
The school’s administration almost closed the school’s doors two weeks ago as a result of the lack of drinking water. However, the authorities were able to source water from a well in the area to remedy the situation.
The current El Nino dry weather conditions have gravely impacted the region. Ironically, last Tuesday, World Wetlands Day was celebrated globally under the theme, “Wetlands for our future, sustainable livelihoods.”
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in Guyana, the Rupununi Wetland plays an important role in the lives of thousands of indigenous people. The Wetland feeds rivers and waterways which are a source of drinking water and a main transportation route for the people living in the area. Also, the vegetation found in the Rupununi Wetlands is used by indigenous people for craft, traditional medicine, houses and food.
The region has been hard hit by the dry weather conditions and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs over the weekend said that a number of measures are being put in place to address the situation to bring relief to the region. These include a public awareness campaign on water conservation and health related issues is currently in action, frequent reports from Regional Councillors, Community Health Workers and Village Toshaos are being received at Lethem regarding the situation in the Villages while differently-abled and senior citizens are being carefully monitored and are the subject of frequent reports.
In addition, the Regional Health authorities are on high alert for possible health challenges which could arise while the Agriculture Extension Officers are also on high alert as the effects of the extreme dry conditions continue to affect the Region’s food production.
The ministry said that village leaders have put measures in place to prevent the poisoning of creeks, streams and rivers for the harvesting of fish and while villages are cleaning and increasing the depth of hand dug wells, bathing in creeks is now prohibited.