Heavy flooding in East Berbice yesterday, which some residents feel was exacerbated by a broken dam, put a damper on the Christmas spirit, leaving many residents confined to their homes.
The rain which began around midnight on Thursday left both residential areas and farmlands inundated.
Many citizens visited New Amsterdam in the hope of withdrawing money from the bank for the holiday. However, several did not bother when they were confronted with floodwaters in front of the banks.
Vendors explained to Stabroek News that yesterday and today were anticipated to be the brightest days for their businesses, however, it was the opposite so far.
When Stabroek News travelled along the Canje area yesterday many residents could be seen sitting on their verandas conversing with their neighbours. In most villages in Canje, the floodwater had gone as far as residents’ gates, but the same could not be said for Canefield Settlement, East Canje; water had entered the bottom flat of most houses.
Mohamed Maiku said he has lived for 37 years at his Lot 69 East Canefield home and this was the first time that floodwater had seeped into his bottom flat. He said he was not sure what to do, except to wait, hope and pray that it drained out by itself. “Hopefully soon”, Maiku said.
Another villager, Halima stated she has never experienced such a heavy flood before in the village. “I born and grow here and married in this same village, we never get flood like this,” she said.
As of yesterday morning, villagers’ yards in the Canje area were flooded. However, as the day went by, the water kept rising. The streets became invisible, kitchens were flooded, bridges floated away and sheds fell. And that was not all, as of late yesterday afternoon persons started to lose livestock. One man said he had already lost three chickens.
Stabroek News interacted with a woman who lives through Welfare Street, Canefield, who said, “Them estate people bruk the dam at the back there two weeks ago fa do something and them never make it back. There the water a come in from.” According to the woman, from her house she could see the water pouring through the breach in the dam.
Canje villagers are seeking immediate help with the flood situation. “This place doesn’t flood so,” one man said. “If rain alone been fall and the water na been a come in deh, abie kitchen and so na been go flood out.”
Residents were reluctant to share their names as most them are attached to Rose Hall Estate.
Chairman of Canefield/ Enterprise Neighbourhood Democratic Council Yedash Causeway later released a statement on social media stating, “All pumps and sluice are in full operation to help reduce the amount of rainfall we experience today. Water expected to reduce by tonight (last night).”
Meanwhile, it was the same in the Corentyne area. Residents explained that the heavy rainfall had flooded their yards, which resulted in most of them having to cancel their Christmas plans.
According to reports, Regional Chairman David Armogan toured the entire region yesterday. However, calls to his phone in the afternoon for a progress report went unanswered.
