– to render assistance to flood-hit Kwakwani

THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has been asked by Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) officials to mobilise urgent assistance for the almost 150 homes that are affected by massive flooding in Kwakwani.

Currently, the community of Lamp Island, in Kwakwani, and the areas around the Kwakwani Waterfront are under nine feet of water, and residents are terribly affected.
While the area is always flooded during the May-June rains, residents and officials say that this year, the communities have been hit the worse, with many residents forced to move to higher ground or to completely evacuate.

Regional officials, including Regional Vice-Chairman Elroy Adolph, are monitoring the situation and have been in contact with the CDC. A report was also sent to CDC officials.
Adolph related that if the rain continues, the water will continue to rise, causing more damage.

“Between Tuesday and Wednesday rain,” he said, “the water raise tremendously, and so it is very threatening if it continues to fall.” Elroy explained that the areas that are flooded are not residential, and since the people living there have been squatting for years, they are in no position to move because of their financial circumstances.
The area at reference is close to the Berbice River, so when the tide rises, it usually floods. According to Adolph, sometimes the flooding goes on until September, and what is urgently needed is clean drinking water, since there are a lot of pit latrines around which are currently overflowing.

Lamp Island resident, Cort Simeon, said that the most difficult issue currently is the increased cost for transportation, since most of the roads are impassable. Boats are now plying the flooded routes that are taking the residents to the last access road. “The boats are exploiting us, because they are taking $300 for transportation,” Simeon said.
“Then the cars are taking another $300, so its $1,200 to go into Kwakwani park and come back. In addition, prices in the shops increase as well,” he added.
He is calling for the officials to consider raising the level of the main access road, so that when flooding occurs in the future, at least transportation would not be affected. He is hoping that residents can get some assistance at the earliest opportunity.