Torrential rains have caused flooding and erosion across sections of Region 10, where homes in Silver City and Blue Berry Hill, Linden are under water.
The Agriculture Ministry yesterday said the situation is the result of intense rainfall over the past 36 hours, when significant quantities of rainfall were recorded at several stations and at some locations the rainfall was accompanied by gusty winds and flash flooding.
At Linden, the rains started in the early morning and continued throughout the day with thunder, lightning and strong winds. For several areas, including the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Alleys and Poker Street/Water Lilly Road, flooding has become a normal feature whenever it rains, despite attempts to remedy the situation.
For residents in some sections of Blue Berry Hill, who saw their yards washed away and their homes waterlogged, the poorly reconstructed roads in the area are to be blamed. “It’s the president’s roads [roads done following Bharrat Jagdeo’s visit to Linden earlier this year] that got we in this,” said a resident. His sentiments were echoed by several others. Although they said the roads were in dire need of rehabilitation, residents noted that the roads were done without any drainage.
A walk through some areas of Blue Berry Hill supported the explanation given by residents. In several areas, drains that existed were replaced with poorly-construction roads. “Deh ain’t even do deh road properly and… deh ain‘t put in no drains making it even worse,” exclaimed one resident. “If you check the accounts, you would see that they wasting taxpayer’s monies because we not getting value for money allocated.”
The Agriculture Ministry said in a statement that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is supporting the Region 10 Administration in responding to the situation. It noted that Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, who has been in contact with the Region 10 Administration, is monitoring the situation closely and has instructed the NDIA to mobilise equipment and workers of the Community Drainage and Irrigation Project to undertake emergency works to clean two main creeks in Silver City and Poker Street, along with several main drains.
While Region Ten does not fall under the purview of the NDIA, the ministry pointed out, support has been extended over the years to clear critical drains and creeks. Further, it said, the NDIA will continue to work with the Region 10 Administration and undertake necessary interventions.
For some coastal localities, it said, water accumulation was exacerbated due to a prevailing spring tide. Grove, Mahaicony recorded the highest rainfall in a 24-hour period with 125 mm.
“A survey of inland locations showed that Linden, Region 10 experienced flash flooding,” it further said, while adding that this was due primarily to heavy downpours which measured 84.8 mm at West Watooka and 57.1 mm at Wismar. The ministry, however, noted that it is expected that rainfall quantities will reduce significantly in the coming days as Guyana continues to meander into the second dry season.
Regional councilors Renis Morian and Jacquline Kitt were on hand to look at the situation at Blue Berry Hill. According to Morian, the flooding of the areas on the Wismar flat is as a result the absence of culverts in the areas. He noted that the culverts were removed and never replaced.
Residents in most of the affected areas said contractors have been doing mediocre road works in their areas. They said that on numerous occasions, they have attempted to peacefully engage the contractors about their works but their suggestions are usually dismissed.
“We need to have contractors from right in Linden who know the dynamics of these areas to work on these projects,” said a resident. Another added that sometimes contractors promise to fix faults, but never do. “Most times they would tell you that they going to fix their faults. Next thing you know, they disappear and we don’t see them back and we are left to suffer the consequences.”
Morian added that the plight of over 100 residents who have been affected by the floodwaters was regrettable. “What we need here in Linden is a disaster relief programme, without that there is no assistance that persons can get when these situations occurs,” he said. He added that there are several health and sanitation implications that residents have to put up with and for some there is the added burden of finding a warm place to sleep after being hit by the floodwaters. “There is nowhere in the region’s budget that we could cater for domestic or regional relief and the sad thing is that we have persons right here in Linden who are qualified to do this type of work,” he further said.
Councillor Kitt expressed concerns about the erosion that is threatening a shop at Half Mile Wismar.
She said that with one hour of rain, it was likely that the shop would collapse if nothing was done. Road construction works which have been halted by the heavy rain were blamed for the erosion in that area. Regional official are to assess the erosion today and work on possible temporary stop gap methods until a more permanent solution can be put in place.
Meanwhile, the ministry also said that due to the heavy rainfall, there has been a build up of water reported in the Canals Polder in Region Three. The NDIA has since intensified its maintenance of the Canals Polder One and Two main drainage canals, while two excavators were also deployed to remove weeds lodged at bridges blocking the flow of water, it said.
