Floodwaters, the result of persistent overnight rainfall coupled with a spring tide began to recede from affected communities on the West Coast Berbice late yesterday afternoon.
Rosignol, Blairmont, Bel Air, Bath Settlement, Union, Bush Lot, Tempe and Rising Sun were all inundated earlier yesterday as a result the spring tide and heavy rain.
Chairman of Region Five Mahaica-Berbice Vickchand Ramphal told Stabroek News yesterday that the regional administration had begun to put measures in place to aid residents who were affected. Ramphal said he toured several areas to assess the situation and found that in the affected villages, residents suffered losses of cash crops, livestock and home appliances.
He said the drainage pumps were working, but some communities such as Blairmont, Bath and Paradise needed extra assistance. As such, the regional chairman said, he requested assistance from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, but was uncertain whether any help would be deployed immediately, given how widespread the flooding was.
West Coast Berbice farmers were fearful that they would suffer more losses of their cash crops and livestock if the rain continued.
Most residents said they woke up to intense rainfall and observed that the water level began to rise just before midday.
Residents said they were faced with more than calf-high water in their yards and kitchens in the lower flat. They had to lift their fridges, stoves and other items off the ground to prevent them from being damaged.
A resident from Bush Lot Village, Latchmin Azeez, told Stabroek News that an estimated 90% of her community was flooded. She explained that areas closer the public road were not flooded.
Azeez said the water started to retreat at around 4.30 pm, as the pump began to work. She pointed out that the pump had been down for a few hours after the fan belt had cut, but it was quickly replaced. She stated that persons who had kitchen gardens would have seen those crops damaged, while shop owners had to elevate items to prevent water damage.
The Bush Lot resident explained that it was the first time in years that the community was flooded. Even residents who had taken preventative measures by elevating their bottom flats and their yards also suffered from the flooding.
Over in Bath, Rickey Ali told Stabroek News that his cash crop garden was covered and should the rain continue he would suffer losses. He stated that the floodwater gradually started to rise between 11 am and 12 pm. The man said that majority of the community was flooded. He stated that persons were shocked when they saw water lodged in areas that are not prone to flooding. He said there was approximately 6 inches of water lodged in the bottom flat of his home where his mother resides and they had to elevate furniture and other household items as a precaution.
Urmina (only name given) a resident of Rising Sun said when she woke up her yard was flooded and as a result they placed sand bags at the entrance of her bottom flat to prevent water from seeping in. She stated that during the week rainfall had already caused a rise in the water level and opined that it was because the area was prone to flooding.
The front section of village, she added, was not severely affected but low-lying areas at the back were.
When Stabroek News spoke with residents of Blairmont around 5.30 pm, they indicated that the water was receding moderately. Pam (only name given) said the water started move off the land around 3 pm, once the tide changed. The woman said she didn’t not suffer any losses as water had just surrounded her yard.
Ramphal further told Stabroek News that he visited Ithaca, West Bank Berbice, but the area was not heavily flooded. He is hopeful that resources would be deployed to region soon to bring relief to the residents.
