Reports from six of the ten regions have indicated that while there was heavy rain yesterday, there was no severe flooding but the Inter-Agency Technical Oversight Commit-tee which is monitoring the May/June rains says that it will remain vigilant.
The committee which is headed by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds includes Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud; Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn; Deputy Mayor of Georgetown Robert Williams; Lionel Wordsworth and Walter Willis, acting CEO and Chairman of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) respectively; and Kester Craig of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).
The members will be meeting on a weekly basis to discuss issues relating to the rainy season and more frequently if necessary.
While the committee is confident that the situation is under control, members said that flooding is heavily related to the type of tide and the time it comes in.
According to a Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) update which was compiled around noon yesterday there were no reports of flooding in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) but prevailing wet conditions. The La Union outfall is to be cleared and all sluices and pumps were operable.
In Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) there were reports of water in Belle West Housing Scheme as well as high waters in Canals Number one and two.
The update stated that all pumps were operable and so the high waters were receding. The NDIA is in the process of installing a new sluice door at Vergenoegen and excavation of the east sideline as well as works to clear drainage canals in that area are almost completed.
While there were reports of accumulation of water in Success, LBI and Greenfield and high water levels in several parts of Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) especially along the East Coast, all pumps were in operation and that helped to ease the situation.
The D&I update said that rehabilitation works on intake structures along part of the East Coast crown dam is almost completed and so is the cleaning work being conducted by the NDIA.
In Georgetown there were reports of flooding in sections of Sophia and high waters in that area and parts of South Georgetown.
When Stabroek News visited sections of the city around 2:30 pm, the water in canals on Robb Street, Main Street, Kingston and Lamaha Street were still high although the rain had slowed to a drizzle.
In some parts residents were seen wading through ankle high water.
Meanwhile, the situation in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) was quite different as there were no reports of flooding or high waters. The information reaching D&I authorities is that the water levels in the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary rivers were normal and like other parts of the country work was being done to prevent flooding.
There were also no reports of any flooding or high waters in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).
In Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice), there were reports of high waters in areas at Kara Kara Creek and accumulation of water in lower Kara Kara. The update said that NDIA will be commencing drainage maintenance works later this week.
Hinds told reporters during the press conference yesterday that he got a call out of Kwakwani stating that the water level in that area was rising.
The water level of the East Demerara, Boerasirie and MMA Conservancies were said to be normal.
Speaking to members of the media, the Prime Minister said that there was no doubt that the May/June rains were causing some concerns. He said that the reports received so far indicated that the country was in a good position to manage the rains without any serious flooding.
Meanwhile Minister Persaud stressed that equipment is on standby to be deployed if the need arises and the issue of repairing pumps in a timely manner is being looked at.
He appealed to the various regional bodies to continue maintaining a level of vigilance so “that we can ride out this rainy season without much difficulties.”
At the end of the press conference, the committee members decided that they will be meeting every Wednesday.
