By Alva Solomon with photos by Anjuli Persaud
Buxton was one of several communities along the East Coast Demerara (ECD) that remained under inches of water following prolonged rainfall over the weekend.
Heavy rains over the weekend swamped several areas across the country, said to be part of La Nina weather phenomenon, which will persist over Guyana until the end of March.
The Hydromet Office of the Agriculture Ministry said yesterday that the downpours may occur from time to time as the weather condition progresses.
The Agriculture Ministry said that as at 8 am yesterday, reports received from several rainfall stations across the country indicated that rainfall exceeded 100 mm in 24 hours. The unit stated that the highest recorded figure for that period was recorded at Wakenaam (169.2 mm).
The ministry stated that light to moderate intermittent rainfall was likely last evening with occasional heavy downpours during the period.
The ministry stated that flood conditions were reported in Regions Four, Five and Six. Along the ECD, flood conditions were observed at Lusignan, Montrose, Triumph, Paradise, Dazzel Housing Scheme and Hope.
Stabroek News visited several areas along the ECD and residents in several communities were mopping up their yards and in some cases their homes as the water receded gradually in most areas. The Buxton area was under water since Sunday evening when the rains poured over the community.
Pig farmer Trevor Thomas, told Stabroek News at his Middle Walk home that his yard and those of his neighbours will remain under water “at least till Wednesday depending on if we get more rain or if the sun come out.” He said he was forced to place several pigs, mainly the older animals on higher ground yesterday as the waters rose in the community.
Thomas said his pens filled with close to 100 pigs were “taking in water, and I hoping that it doesn’t get too high or else my animals will be affected.”
He said that in previous years, he lost several animals but according to him, the authorities, mainly the Agriculture Ministry, pay little concern to his problems.
“This water now gon keep rising as the backlands drain into this area and we gon be like this for days because those area don’t have proper drainage,” Thomas noted. He said most of the households in the area are threatened by flood waters, adding, “is a health problem we looking at and then you have to look at the foundations of most houses in here”.
Further south in the community, a number of cows, sheep and other animals lined the streets as residents mopped up their homes. At Company Road, a resident said that the entire bottom flat of his home was under as much as 10 inches of water yesterday at lunchtime. He said that a number of items, including his furniture and carpets were damaged by flood waters.
At Bachelor’s Adventure, residents were housed in several areas as the water levels there remained above knee high in most areas. A resident of the area told Stabroek News that she and her family were indoors for most of the weekend and she noted that most of the day yesterday the community experienced sunshine, however, her yard and those of her neighbours’ were still under water.
“They [authorities] need to do something about this because is not like they don’t know… year in year out they know water does come down from the backlands, well do something bout it nah,” she said angrily.
Further up along the ECD at Clonbrook and Douchfour, the water levels rose significantly yesterday morning, residents said, but subsided in most parts of the community.
The main drainage pumps at several locations, including Hope, Greenfield, Triumph and Liliendaal were in working order yesterday as water was being pushed off land.
According to Agriculture Ministry, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will issue updates twice daily within the coming week and it was noted that the heavy rains over the past 48 hours have caused the drainage system to be challenged.
The ministry stated that increased water levels were reported in the Mahaica and Mahaicony creeks and it was noted that all pumps and sluices were operable. The agency stated too that the water conservancy levels were manageable yesterday and those will be monitored as the week progresses.
