Continuous rain over the weekend left most of De Kinderen submerged in water and residents yesterday pleaded for relief.
“This is real overbearing we need help. This is crisis,” said George Bowman, of De Kinderen Sideline Dam. Bowman’s home, like many others in the West Coast Demerara community, has been flooded out for close to three days now.
On Monday, the Agriculture Ministry noted that De Kinderen had recorded some 8.9 inches of rain over a two-day period. The rainwater swelled the canals of the village and the excess water covered bridges and measured up to knee-high levels in some yards.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) reported last evening that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) deployed pumps and excavators to drain several villages along the West Coast Demerara, including De Kinderen. It noted that water had receded to a significant degree in most parts of the village, while in other parts excavators were working to clear the drains and bring relief to affected residents. GINA also said excavators had also been deployed at Meten-Meer-Zorg and Den Amstel to address flooding.
For residents on the Sideline Dam, the flood has resulted in the death of their livestock and irreparable damage to household items and other personal belongings. Bowman has seen his entire house under water. He said that even his bed had been soaked. Inside the house, furniture was packed upon each other.
Next door, Bibi Nazmoon was sitting on the road corner. While the water in her house ran off, her shop was still flooded. The woman pointed out that every time it rains, the area is flooded.
Some residents contended that the area is being flooded because the canals are not properly maintained. According to a resident who gave his name as Charendeen, the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in the area has neglected the drains. “I admit that this area low, being that the trench abandon for years now,” he stated. The man pointed out that many complaints had been made to the NDC to have the trench cleaned and it was only yesterday that regional officials brought in two excavators.
Another resident, who declined to be named, pointed out that it was not since the flooding in 2005 that the canals were properly cleaned. “All they doing now is teking out them things,” the man stated. One excavator was at the head of the Sideline Dam access road parked. The other was down at the end of the road clearing the growth from the canal, which flowed all the way to sugarcane fields.
Animal casualties
Many De Kinderen residents practice animal husbandry and they reported that their animals were dying. Zameer Mohamed, 33, who rears poultry, could only save 19 chicks. When the water started to flood his backyard farm, most of his chicks died. Those that survived had to be cooped up in pens and placed on boards to keep them out of the water.
“I lose 16 ducks and about two dozen chicken,” said pensioner Joseph Williams. Williams, who cares for seven grandchildren, noted that they could not go to school because all their clothes were soaked when the water flooded his lower flat. What could not be washed had to be thrown away. The water in some parts of Williams’ yard was knee-high. “Everybody gah be upstairs,” he noted.
Residents in De Kinderen are calling for assistance, since their livelihood is being destroyed by the floodwaters. One man reported that he has lost his kitchen garden and two kid goats to the water.
“All day ya gah be bailing water,” Bibi Zabeda Ally, 61, whose home was soaked, said. The woman, who rears chickens and “mek lil things fuh sell,” said since the rains and the flooding that followed she cannot do anything. Her kitchen, she pointed out, has flooded. “Yesterday (Monday) if ya see water that been in hey. It didn’t reach the bed yet but all de carpet it wet up and the place giving a smell now because of the water. Me even can’t cook.”
Meanwhile, some residents reported that they were getting rashes, fevers and colds. One man who resides in the De Kinderen Housing Scheme, which is also flooded, said that he had to put his animals in his bedroom to save them from the water.
However, since treading through the water he has developed a rash on his leg. Several other residents displayed breakouts on their skin, and especially on their legs and in between their toes.
They said their children are catching cold and some of them fever. However several children were seen yesterday splashing and playing in the floodwaters. Many children, residents explained have been kept away from school because of the flooding.
Residents are hoping for a break in the weather so that the water can run off their lands and out of their homes. They are also hopeful that someone will pay the community some attention. While residents pointed out that a pump has been placed in the area to drain the water when the sluice is closed, they said that it is not working fast enough.
According to GINA, the NDIA remains fully mobilised and ready to offer whatever additional support it can provide to vulnerable communities.
