….in the face of ongoing La Nina conditions
PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar, at Cabinet meeting Tuesday, urged that there be more engagements with communities that are experiencing flooding following the unusual heavy rainfall. And should be considered for the overall plans to be put in place by the drainage and irrigation authority.
Briefing the media yesterday at his post cabinet meeting, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, said, “Equally important is to have regular monitoring and rehearsals of the D & I plans to combat flooding.”.
Dr. Luncheon noted that despite government’s sustained maximum efforts, the impact of the heavy rainfall is being felt in many areas countrywide, especially in the coastal regions and hinterland areas.
“Flooding has been followed by predictable consequences on homes and livelihoods”, Dr. Luncheon went on to state.
He added that President Donald Ramotar addressed Cabinet at its meeting Tuesday on the flooding situation, as a result of his visit to several areas in the capital city as well as the East Coast of Demerara and Region 5.
The flooding situation has gained the attention of the political parties, with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), in a statement on Tuesday, calling on the Administration to implement a national strategy to break the cycle of flooding that has been repeatedly plaguing the country.
But the Administration is contending that while the flood situation has been repeatedly occurring from time to time, its impact is being minimized due to ongoing drainage and irrigation works carried out countrywide over the years.
Meanwhile, questioned on the government’s proposal for the relocation of some residents of Mahaica and Mahaicony who were severely affected by the flood situation, Dr.Luncheon said, “The initial intervention had seen about 70 families being relocated away from the river bed and out into the East Coast, in areas such as Lusignan and Hope”.
He is of the view that criticisms may have influenced others not to join with those who were relocated, since some believe it was a case of “jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire”.
The issue was discussed at Cabinet on Tuesday and according to Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, government is exploring additional interventions that can be made to bring relief to residents who suffered losses because of flooding. And this is top priority with the government.
In the capital city, water accumulated from last weekend’s heavy rainfall has drained off. Hence the situation is not so dire as in some sections of Regions 3, 5 and 6.
As for the Hope Canal, the Cabinet Secretary said, “The excavation that is being done by Government is ongoing, and 10 percent of the work has been completed”.
A bridge across the East Coast highway will be constructed and the road will have to be broken to facilitate the canal emptying into the Atlantic.
The breaking of the seawall and the construction of the sluice to handle the discharge of water have been designed, and the contract has been awarded paving the way for works to commence soon. “These works should be completed by the end of 2013”, Dr. Luncheon said.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry said it continues to support farmers and residents countrywide, and actions are being taken by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority to bring relief.
Agriculture Officers have gone into the fields to assist farmers at Moruca, Region 1, and Kato, Region 8, since there are reports of high water levels in those areas.
The ministry has given the assurance that the situation will continue to be monitored and maintenance works are ongoing.
A pump has been deployed to Devonshire Castle to facilitate drainage, and a NDIA excavator has cleaned drainage channels in Three Friends, Anna Regina, the Lima outfall channel, and Devonshire Castle.
In Region 3, which is one of the most affected areas, all sluices and pumps are operable and a dragline is presently cleaning inlet channels at Canal No. 1. In addition, NDIA excavators are currently undertaking works on low sections of the Boerasarie Conservancy between Canals No. 1 and 2, while a breach has been sealed in Cline dam. A mobile pump and dragline have been re-deployed to Canal No.1
In Region 4, while the water is receding around the city, pumps were installed at Herstelling, Little Diamond, and the South Craig sluice on the East Bank of Demerara.
Drainage tubes are closed off on the right bank of the Mahaicony to cut off inflows of rising water in Region 5, and the MMA/ADA is clearing outfall channels at Bath. Additionally, an excavator was deployed at Mahaicony/ Abary to facilitate the cleaning of internal drains.Similar works are being carried out in flooded areas in Region 6.