–Minister Mustapha engages residents on short, long-term interventions to mitigate flooding

MINISTER of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, on Wednesday, met with residents from Canal Number One Polder and Canal Number Two Polder, on the West Bank of Demerara, where he committed to providing more aid to alleviate the impact of flooding.
Wednesday’s exercise was a continuation of the assessments that the minister has been conducting across flooded communities along the coast.
So far, Minister Mustapha has visited most of the flood-affected areas in Regions Five and Six, as well as the most affected areas in Region Three.
During the meeting in Canal Number One Polder, residents said there is need for drainage works in the area. They said a machine was dispatched to the community, but the works could not be completed as persons who occupy the reserve objected to the machine traversing there.
Residents also requested that additional works be carried out on the Canal Polder backdam, as well as other sections of the community. These works, they said, would have to be done after the rainy season.

Minister Mustapha said residents must cooperate while the work is being done. He said additional measures will be put in place once the rainy period is over.
“The last time I was here, I told you that I would send a machine to do some works. When the machine came, the works were hampered because persons had erected bridges and were occupying the reserve. “We are willing to revisit those works if residents can come to a consensus that these works have to be done. That is the only way the water will be able to run off of the land,” he said.   As part of the emergency interventions to bring relief, Minister Mustapha also told residents that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is working to source an amphibious excavator to carry out the works. He also told residents that a machine would also be sent to the community to commence works on the ‘B’ line canal.
Meanwhile, residents in Canal Number Two Polder said their area also needs drainage works. Cash crop and livestock farmers, who engaged Minister Mustapha, related that they too had lost most of their livelihood. Shameeza Ali, a cash crop farmer from Canal Number Two Polder, said she lost all of her crops as a result of the flood.
“I had passion fruit, pine, pear, plantain and other fruits and so. All duck out. I would really like it if some form of assistance can be given to me and the other farmers who suffered losses. All of [our] things them duck out Mr. Minister. Please, we need your help,” Ali said.

Minister Mustapha told residents that a team of extension officers was conducting flood-assessments in the region, and, once those assessments were completed, farmers would receive assistance to return to the land. “Those farmers who would’ve lost crops and livestock, our officers from GLDA, GRDB, and NAREI have been moving around the region carrying out flood assessments. Once a final report is completed, we’ll see how much assistance we can give you from the level of the Ministry.
“We cannot give money but we’ll help you with some seeds, and other planting material so that you can return to the land. We understand the important role farmers play so we will work with you and give you the kind of support you need,” he said.

The minister also told residents that long-term issues that were raised would also be addressed once things return to some level of normalcy.
“Most of the issues that were raised are long-term interventions. We’ll have to work to have those implemented after we deal with the current situation. My engineers will be looking at the feasibility of those suggestions. “Once these suggestions will help to prevent or at least minimize flooding in the area in the future, we will do the works. They will be done in phases to ensure you have long-term development in the community,” Minister Mustapha related.
During the outreach, the minister also met flood-affected residents from Belle East and West, Vriesland, and Goed Fortuin. (DPI)