– over 200 forestry workers affected, lumber operations cease
FLOOD worries are now a major concern for persons in the Upper Corentyne, more so the forestry workers on concessions in the area.
One of the largest lumber operators in the area, Ganesh Singh, said the water levels are the highest that have hit the area in years.
In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, he stated that he has been operating in the area for over 35 years now and the area has not seen such high levels before.
“In 2008 we had high levels of water, but this time round it is the worst,” Singh said.
The Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), according to the local Hydromet office, remains south and its continued movement to the Atlantic Ocean is expected to result in more rainfall.
Singh, who has two Timber Sales Agreements (TSAs) along the Upper Corentyne, noted that the Lower Corentyne areas, such as Orealla, are also affected, but the worst hit areas are further up river.
These affected areas, according to him, include Cowfalls, Wanatobo, Timehri Rapids, and Locust Landing, among others.
He said the conditions are so bad that operations have been ceased indefinitely and losses are estimated in the millions.
“In all, we have about 200 workers who are still in the area battling the flood waters,” he said.
Singh added that the heavy rainfall continues, as the level of the Corentyne River rises.
“From the lowest level that the river is usually at, there is an increase of about 35 feet, and that is what we are dealing with…the water is so high you can’t tell the land from the river. They are one now,” he said.
Singh is also the Managing Director of the popular Cortours (Corentyne Tours) in the area, and noted that the Courtours Guest House has suffered the same fate and is battling with several feet of flood waters.
“We have been having rains since April, but they have intensified in the last few weeks and the result is the flooding,” he said.
The lumber operator’s brother, Motee Singh, a company director responsible for administration, pointed out the guesthouse costs millions and services several persons in the area.
“We have suffered many losses, but we have had some support from the government through the Guyana Forestry Commission,” he said.
According to him, what is needed is a medical team to address a possible breakout of malaria.
The Civil Defence Commission’s Director General, Chabilall Ramsarup, told the Guyana Chronicle that supplies are being sent to flood affected areas; Kwakwani’s Water Front and Lamp Island in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice) and Canje in Region 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne).
He added that Rockstone, also in Region 10, has not been visited yet, but support will reach the affected area soon.
Also several Government Ministries are advancing interventions of their own, in collaboration with stakeholder agencies, especially the Health Ministry, whose teams are providing support through medical outreaches that oversee the distribution of supplies.