Leader of the Opposition, David Granger, is calling on the PPP/C-dominated agencies which control drainage in the Mahaica-Berbice Region to provide relief to all residents in the region, regardless of their alleged political affiliation, a press release from the Office of the Leader of the Opposition said.
Granger paid a visit to villages along the Mahaicony River which have been affected by recent floods and residents complained of political discrimination saying that certain named officials had openly accused persons who were living in ‘green’ villages (the APNU colour) of having voted overwhelmingly for APNU in the 2011 general and regional elections.
“Residents pointed out that the biggest problem came not from rainfall alone but from the administration’s lack of preparation, lack of communication and lack of concern for the plight of farmers and families,” the release stated
The residents also noted that the PPP/C-dominated Regional Democratic Coun-cil, National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary-Agricul-tural Development Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture were aware of their plight.
Moreover, residents noted that whenever the Maduni sluice is opened to release water from the East Demerara Water Conservancy, the NDIA channels excess water from the Mahaica River eastwards to the Mahaicony River.
The canals, however, do not have the capacity to carry the increased volume of water. To make matters worse, the canals are narrow and shallow, the kokers are small and certain ‘green’ areas are given low priority for the deployment of equipment, such as excavators, to provide relief. As a result, farmlands and housing areas along the Mahaicony have been frequently flooded over the past 12 years.
The Opposition Leader, the release added, is demanding that residents be provided with immediate relief from their plight and that serious rehabilitation of the river dam, canals and kokers be started to save their crops and livestock.
Granger was accompanied by members of the National Assembly, Jennifer Wade and Winston Felix, RDC councillor Carol Joseph and others when they visited areas from Perth to Strath Campbell on Thursday.
These communities have been under stagnant water for over two weeks, the release noted.
