Extreme high tides in the lower Pomeroon River has flooded farms and homes on both banks of the river.
Councillor of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Rudolph Garraway, who represents the lower Pomeroon, told Regional Chairman Mr Alli Baksh and other Councillors at their statutory meeting on Tuesday that extreme high tides Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning overflowed the river defence dams and flooded farms and low houses. According to the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNCR) Councillor, farmers have lost millions of dollars after their farms were destroyed by flood waters. He said farms are under some six feet of water and every crop is lost.
According to the Councillor, thousands of young watermelons and pumpkins are floating, while cassava, suckers, citrus and other vine crops are perishing under the water.
According to Mr. Garraway, poultry have also drowned while low built houses are also under water.
He said residents have to use canoes and small boats to move around.
Mr. Garraway said the situation is bad, especially at St John, lower Akawini, Aberdeen, Nunes, Hackney, Enterprise and in some areas in the upper Pomeroon River.
The Councillor also reported that the extreme high tides have caused several breaches along the earthen embankment (river defence dam) on both banks of the Pomeroon River.
Region Two Chairman, Mr Alli Baksh, after listening to the Councillor, said he will inform the Chief Executive Officer Mr. Lionel Wordsworth of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) immediately about the flooding in the lower Pomeroon and ask that he send a delegation quickly to look at the situation.
Mr Baksh said he is very worried about the Pomeroon in light of climate change and the constant rise in the sea level.
According to the Chairman, he wants farmers to move to higher ground as new approaches will have to be found to farming in the Pomeroon area.
The Chairman called for farmers to use the co-op method in coming together to empolder farms and build sturdy river defence dams.
Mr Garraway said he has never seen such high tides during his 50 years as a farmer in the Pomeroon.
The Councillor said the main activity of residents living in the Pomeroon is farming and with the sudden destruction of farms by flooding, the livelihood of every farmer will be affected.
Mr. Garraway said schools and health centres are also flooded, while pit toilets have overflowed.
Councillor Garraway is appealing for the river defence dams along both banks in the lower Pomeroon to be raised so farms can be protected from flooding.