The floodwater in Buxton on the East Coast Demerara is now dropping significantly after an additional pump was placed there yesterday.
The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) yesterday transferred an extra pump to assist with the floodwaters that had covered large parts of the community since Wednesday night.
According to the residents, the NDIA transported the pump around 10AM yesterday and was able to get it working around 1PM.
The addition of the pump saw the water receding more significantly in 6 hours than it had in three days. When Stabroek News had initially visited the area on Thursday, floodwater reached a height of almost 10 inches in some areas.
The trench had overflowed onto the road in the area and farmers’ gardens and livestock pens were all submerged causing them to lose livestock and crops.
Stabroek News had visited the area again on Friday where it was seen that while the water had started receding in most parts of the East Coast, it had increased about 2-3 inches and had only dropped about 2 inches in 24 hours on Saturday.
When Stabroek News visited the area again yesterday, it was seen that while some parts of the community were still in deep, murky floodwaters, the level had made a significant drop of about 4-5 inches. Water had receded completely off of the main road and was slowly creeping away from the yards of the residents.
Members of the community lauded the attention Stabroek News had paid to their plight. They contended that the additional pump was only transferred because the situation was being publicized. “They weren’t checking in here you know. I can’t tell you why, I don’t know. They were only driving along the main roads and because they ain’t notice flooding there, they assume it ain’t in heh at all,” one farmer said, explaining that since the flooding had started, he has not seen any government official, or any team inspecting the area.
Farmers are still counting their losses as they are unable to feed their animals. The residents are appealing for assistance with medical supplies, food for their animals, and cleaning supplies for their homes.
Even though the water has started to significantly recede, members of the community are appealing to the government to pay special attention to Buxton and their current plight.
The East Coast, East Bank and Georgetown areas were inundated after heavy rainfall on Wednesday and into Thursday morning. While the water had receded on the East Bank and most of the city areas, the East Coast and Albouystown were still suffering tremendously as the water drained very slowly.
While, the Albouystown area was feeling the same pressure of high floodwaters, yesterday it was seen that the level had reduced by about 7-8 inches.
