SOME three days after torrential rain and floodwaters created havoc in low-lying areas of Georgetown and other areas of the coastland, the homes of some East Coast Demerara (ECD) residents were still inundated with stagnant floodwater yesterday.Some of the yards were still submerged although pumps were promptly activated following the heavy rainfall on Wednesday last.

A slow afternoon drive along the Railway Embankment Road showed that despite the tireless efforts of the relevant Ministries, some of the residents of Montrose, Felicity, Le Ressouvenir, Buxton and other East Coast areas were still affected by floodwaters which had not receded entirely.
When this newspaper spoke to one resident from Montrose, she was eager to relay her distress of having to wade daily through the “dirty waters” to perform daily tasks.
According to the middle-aged woman, the trench which is situated behind the houses acts as a habitat for snakes and other reptiles. As a result, when there is flooding and the water level matches that of the trench, these reptiles are transferred onto the lands and pose a threat to residents.
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Additionally, she noted that livestock belonging to her uncle who lives just next door are affected by the flooding. “My uncle has livestock, and when the floods come, he has to take them over the seawall to graze because the part where they graze gets flooded; so he takes them there. He has ducks, fowls, sheep and pigs,” the woman said.
But according to her, a solution to the routine problem of flooding would be to provide the area with a pump which is capable of pushing out the water over the seawall. “They should get a pump to pump the water over, so they wouldn’t have to wait on tide to pump the water,” she said, adding that the local authorities rarely, if ever at all, use the pump which they currently have. This, she noted, was because the present pump “damages the section of the land” on which it operates.
“They have to build it properly, because every time rain falls, it’s the same thing; and people who live in bottom houses punish,” the Montrose woman maintained yesterday.
A few villages away, Bibi Ameena Kasim of Felicity, her family, including three young daughters, have been “severely” affected by the floods, which she expected would have been gone by now due to the efforts made in this regard.
The mother of three explained that she, too, is prevented from doing her daily chores due to the ankle-level stagnated waters in her yard. As it relates to her daughters, she revealed: “When the flood is gone, they get sick, because the water takes too long to go down; it does take a long while to go down, and this is breeding mosquitoes.”
But not limited to mosquitoes, Kasim told this publication that on Saturday evening, two water snakes were found in her yard. “And it’s also affecting our pets: Rabbits, a parrot and our cats. We have to keep them in the house because of the water,” she said.
Another resident of Felicity, who requested that his name be withheld, proposed too that a pump which is capable of pumping the floodwaters over the seawall be bought and installed to address the issue.
Detailing his experiences since the flooding commenced last Wednesday, the man stated that while mosquitoes have been in abundance, worms have also been transported into people’s yards. Cash crops such as ochroes, tomatoes, peppers and callaloo which once flourished in his backyard and provided a meal for his family were destroyed as a result of the flood.
Just a few days ago, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon disclosed that residents of affected areas would be provided with food and water supplies, and other necessities, as well as mattresses and camp cots, among other relief items. “We have come up with a certain plan, which will unfold as the days go by,” Minister Harmon said.
According to the Minister, farmers affected by the flooding caused by the heavy and prolonged downpour will receive relief from the Government. He further explained that Government’s technical officers will be deployed to critically affected areas to meet with farmers, listen to their concerns, and see what sort of help can be dispensed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo also weighed in on the issue, offering that, “I believe this is an unnecessary tragedy that has befallen our people, but we are doing all we can, and [we are] mobilising all the resources to bring relief.”
Nagamootoo further added that, “If we had some of the pumps that had been ordered from Surendra, and they had been deployed by now, I’m sure this situation would not have affected so many people.”

By Ravin Singh