Dead and dying fish, mosquito infestation, stagnant water, malaria, typhoid and dengue have resulted in residents of West Watooka, Wismar, Linden calling for a state of emergency to be declared and for immediate remedial action.
“This is the maximum – we never experience nothing like this. I live here all my life and never nothing like this before,” exclaimed Karen Wallace who was supported by a group of women of West Watooka.
Stabroek News was called in to the area by Regional Chairman Kuice Sharma Solomon and several residents.
“I definitely can’t deal with dis, we depend on dis water fuh everything, now my children can’t even go to school and dis whole place stink,” said one woman whose home sits on the edge of one of the canals.
The evidence was quite visible during a visit to several of the canals where there were dead patwa (fish) floating, the water was stagnant and the smell offensive. Mosquitoes were in thick clusters everywhere even before the sun went down.
“Mosquito was never a problem in here – last night we had to run out this house and go and buy coil still we couldn’t sleep,” said one family.
Residents are more concerned about the rising incidents of dengue, malaria and typhoid. They said that recently health problems have been reported, mainly among children and some adults.
The problems are a spin-off of the main canals not being maintained and according to residents and farmers it has been more than one year this has not been done. The rains came and caused flooding in the West Watooka area where farmers recorded millions of dollars in losses.
The problem today has escalated, posing health risks, further loss of produce and also threatens livestock and poultry in the area.
Regional Chairman Solomon who was on the ground said that since February he has been on the heels of the NDIA (National Drainage and Irrigation Authority) to address the clearing of the canals in West Watooka and other areas in the town.
Last week NDIA coordinator Lionel Wordsworth met residents at the invitation of Solomon and informed them that a contract had been awarded to Pioneer Constructing Company to clear canals in the area.
The stagnant water problem was compounded by the collapsed koker at the entrance of the community and with the period of heavy rainfall the main access road is on the verge of collapsing as the road has been extensively undermined.
“Every day all we hearing is that excavator coming, excavator coming and nothing happening now things at its worst,” said one woman who was moved to tears. “God forbid anything should go wrong with my kids, you smell dis place, and you see these mosquitoes,” the woman sobbed.
Meanwhile, residents said they are ready to take on the job of cleaning the canals as was done in the past. They said a team of approximately twenty residents usually take no more than four days to clean at least five canals.
“We use to do a damn good work cause in de end it’s for our benefit but everything get political and deh stop giving we de contract.”
Solomon promised residents stronger representation with the hope of action by today.
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“If we ain’t get nothing positive by deh time we wake up in deh morning we going to GT with placards.”
