REGIONAL Chairman of Region Three, Julius Faerber has refuted statements made by People’s National Congress (PNC) Member of Parliament, Mervin Williams on the “flooding situation” in the Region.

“Mervin Williams is trying to create problems in the area by having members from the PNCR saying things to the media that are untrue,” Faerber declared.

He added that Williams was quoted as saying that approximately 800 to 1200 acres of rice were damaged by flood.

“Those rumours are untrue because we have had reports of approximately 30 to 40 acres being damaged,” Faerber said.

He assured the residents that the situation is being monitored on a 24-hour basis and the Region is utilising its resources to ensure that damage remains minimal.

The Chairman gave an update as to the works that have been done in the Region.

He noted that maintenance works are being conducted on a monthly basis apart from that of the National Democratic Council (NDC) and Water Users Associations (farmers’bodies).

There are 14 NDCs in the Region which are responsible for clearing the primary drains in the housing areas while the five Water Users Associations are in charge of clearing the secondary drains in the farming areas. These associations receive funding by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Faerber stated that the Region along with the Ministry of Agriculture are responsible for the clearing of tertiary drains as well as those not done by the Water Users such as up the Demerara River, Parika Backdam and Hubu Back on a monthly basis and includes hand weeding and excavation.

Extensive works were done to major water ways in preparation of the rainy season. These included cleaning of Canals No.1 and 2 main drains, Goed Fortuin A/Side Line drains, Vreed-en-Hoop collector drains, Harlem main drain and sideline, Ruimzeigt side line, Windsor Forest east and west side line, La Jalousie, Ruby, Vergenoegen and Parika sideline drains.

Further, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) excavated drains in the Vreed-en-Hoop/La Jalousie and Parika/Salem areas.

Faerber said that during the present rainy season some difficulties were encountered with a build up of siltation on the ocean-side of the sluices at Windsor Forest, La Jalousie and Blankenburg.

“The siltation problem at Windsor Forest and Blankenburg has been dealt with. We were assisted by farmers to clear the slush mud in front of the sluices channel which granted relief to the siltation problem,” Faerber said.

Additionally, he noted that drainage pumps and irrigators were installed to assist with getting the water off the land. This included one irrigator pump from GuySuCo which was installed at La Jalousie while one was redeployed from Goed Fortuin to Windsor Forest to assist.

Two other GuySuCo pumps were placed at Crane and Vreed-en-Hoop villages. An Arnold Pump was placed at Pouderoyen sluice while two drainage pumps were put at the main sluices at Canal No. 1 and Canal No. 2.