– Minister Benn assures
MINISTER of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn, in his most recent assessment last night of the current high tide and its effects, reported that several of the areas affected Thursday were again hit but for a shorter duration.
Contacted by the Government Information Agency (GINA) last evening, Minister Benn explained that overtopping lasted for merely an hour and that Thursday’s  3.36 metre tidal prediction was at a mere 3.31 metres.

“Flooding is not continuous in all of the areas, particularly where there are heavy human impacts or activity,” Minister Benn advised.
Forecasts are, that today will be the last of the high tide which is expected to be at 3.27 metres in the afternoon hours. Minister Benn explained that Thursday’s prediction of tides coming in at 3.36 metres came in at 3.63 metres, some 10 inches higher than the prediction.

Parts of the East and West Bank of Demerara and West Coast of Demerara were inundated due to overtopping of the Demerara River in what was described as the highest level of overtopping for 2010.

The phenomenon is believed to be caused by a combination of rising water levels in the Demerara River coupled with some six inches of water flowing from heavy rainfall in the interior.
“Rainfall in the interior has swollen the rivers and it has coincided with the high tide and is manifesting itself as the overtopping of river dam embankments, koker wing walls and koker doors at various areas,” Minister Benn said.

In the interim, several operatives and institutions in the sea defence and drainage and irrigation fields are engaged in mobilization and monitoring in an effort to mitigate the effects. Residents are urged to take the necessary precautions.

Minister Benn noted that remedial works will be done on the earthen embankments and koker doors.

President Bharrat Jagdeo in the early hours of yesterday morning made several spot checks on affected areas of East Bank, East Coast and West Bank of Demerara, advising residents to be on high alert.
He ordered an immediate assessment of the infrastructural damage to determine the interventions needed.
Meanwhile, Cabinet is carefully monitoring threats to food security, especially in areas where flood waters have not receded and crops are lost as a result, he said.
The Amerindian Affairs Ministry in conjunction with the Ministries of Local Government and Regional Development and Agriculture are currently collaborating on additional interventions to mitigate the impact in those communities.
On September 3, Ministers Kellawan Lall and Pauline Sukhai spearheaded the first response which saw a quantity of food items valued at $1.5M being dispatched to aid the residents of North and South Pakaraima in Region Nine, which have been waterlogged for over six weeks.

In the coming week, more food supplies are expected to be dispatched to other areas in the Pakaraima such as Tipuru and Tuseneng.  Additionally, the Agriculture Ministry will be providing assistance to revitalise farming in the affected communities.