Bee Hive stung by lack of help
The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) began pumping water out from Dochfour on Monday afternoon and continued yesterday but other areas on the East Coast Demerara are still experiencing some amount of flooding.
Large amounts of mud remained in Dochfour but residents were pleased that the water had been pumped out though they expressed reservations about what would happen during heavy rainfall, since the area is low-lying and the Hope Koker is not functioning well.
Meantime, sections of the nearby community of Bee Hive continue to experience some flooding and residents complained that no assistance had been extended to them. Some residents told this newspaper that water had been on their land since December 3 and while it intermittently drained, it always returned.
There were two pumps operating at Dochfour yesterday and this newspaper was told that they had begun operating shortly after 2 pm on Monday and worked through the night to pump the water off. They were in operation when this newspaper visited after 3 pm yesterday and according to one of the operators, would continue until all the water is drained off.
Residents while thankful that the water is gone reiterated that proper drainage is needed. They said that the Hope Koker is critical for drainage in the area and called for the groyne, which is practically non-existent to be rebuilt quickly. The Hope Koker is the main drainage outlet for the area. Residents restated their concerns about what is going to happen in the coming months as they have lost their crops and some of their livestock have died. They also worried about what would happen when the pumps are removed. “If the rain continue to fall and the koker not working and the tractor (with the pumps) gone back, then we gon get more flooding” said Kalowtie Persaud.
An NDIA engineer told this newspaper that a tube to drain water from Dochfour will be installed shortly and they are looking to divert the water to the Greenfield koker. The tube is expected to have a self-acting door.
Residents of Dochfour said too that they are in need of disinfectant and due to the situation their children were unable to go to school. A Ministry of Health team was in the area, when this newspaper visited yesterday.
Meantime, at Bee Hive, water, several inches deep covered a number of yards. Residents said that they had been affected by flooding since last month and though the water intermittently drained away, it never drained completely off. Residents said that they had lost livestock and crops and were in need of assistance particularly as it relates to health issues.
Haymawtie Sawh, who lived alone and said that she was a widow, lamented the loss of over 90 chickens since her area was flooded on December 3rd.
She said that she needed help and was distressed that she had gotten none even though she had notified several agencies of her plight. “Me proper punish…me call Robert Persaud office…”, she said stating that she had also visited Freedom House. “They seh me must tell God foh stop rain fall”, she asserted.
Norbert Collis of Clonbrook said that so far he had lost 25 ducks and 12 chickens. He stated that his garden was also covered in water. “The water going and coming”, he stated. Other residents in the area were also affected and said that health teams should be sent.
