—crested Rupununi River leaves travellers stranded
The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has advised the Mahdia Town Council to relocate residents living close to creeks and low-lying areas, after recent flash-flooding forced them from their homes.
Floodwaters have significantly receded in Mahdia, Region 8, where a flash-flood on Friday caused residents living near the creeks to be displaced. Water has also been slowly receding in flooded Rupununi areas, after rivers and creeks crested due to the constant downpour, leaving dozens of persons stranded by the Rupununi River.
Director General of the CDC, Colonel Kester Craig, said that families in Mahdia have already begun moving back into their homes.
He said that in addition to distributing cleaning supplies to the town, the CDC is also sharing foodstuff to the families that have been affected by the flooding. He noted that a team from the CDC is already in Mahdia assessing the damage caused by the flood, and they will continue to monitor the situation. The drenching led to the flooding of homes, roads and businesses located close to creeks.
According to the Deputy Mayor of Mahdia, Jewayne Burrowes, approximately 10 families were severely affected, while two families were evacuated from their houses. She also revealed that an elderly man known as ‘Uncle Samo’ was trapped in his home after the water came rushing into his house in the wee hours of Friday morning, causing the house to become swamped. He was later rescued and sent to the Mahdia District Hospital. She revealed that housing materials, including mattresses, could be seen floating around the areas which suffered the most damage.
A team from the CDC subsequently arrived to assess the damage caused by the flooding, after which they interviewed families that were affected. The families that were severely affected were given hampers, detergents and foodstuff. Additional supplies were mobilized and deployed to the region yesterday.
Prior to the arrival of Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, the CDC advised the persons affected by the flooding to stay alert, considering the fact that most of them were living near creeks. They also tasked the Town Council with devising a plan to relocate persons living close to creeks and low areas, so as to avoid a recurrence of the situation.
Upon arrival, Trotman and Patterson were briefed by the CDC team, which was headed by Captain Salim October, after which the two ministers visited the flood sites and the road that was washed away due to the heavy rainfall.
Relief in 24 hours
A Department of Public Information (DPI) release reported that the ministers, who were accompanied by engineers from the infrastructure ministry and officers from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, promised that urgent remedial works would be undertaken, and that the Mahdia road would be made passable again within 24-hours.
“We have awarded the contract to two local contractors who will start fixing the bridge to allow road use as this is the main road into Mahdia,” Patterson told DPI, relating that there are plans in place to construct a new, sturdier bridge to replace the temporary one being built.
Trotman added that they will also be desilting creeks in the area to ensure that the water runs off smoothly during the rainy season.
“I am also pleased that immediate repair to the breached road leading into Mahdia is being done immediately by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.” Patterson noted.
South Rupununi
October reportedly conducted assessments at several locations which were hit the hardest by the flash-flooding. Sources indicate that cleanup has already began throughout areas that were affected by the floods.
On the other hand, noting that the CDC was also monitoring flooding in areas such as Aishalton and Sandcreek, Region 9, Craig stated that the CDC has received no reports of families being affected by the torrential rains in those areas. He noted that the consistent downpour in those areas resulted mainly in the overflowing of rivers and creeks in the location. However, he said that reports indicate that the overflowing rivers have slowly begun to recede.
This was confirmed by the Toshao of Aishalton, Michael Thomas, who stated that while no families in the village have been affected by the torrential rains, residents of the entire South Rupununi are facing another problem. He said that due to the constant rainfall, which began on Wednesday, rivers and creeks surrounding the South Rupununi have crested, causing persons who are leaving and returning to the villages to become stranded, especially near the Rupununi River.
Stranded
Leoni James, a businesswoman from Aishalton, reported that while on her way back to Aishalton from Lethem, upon arrival at the Rupununi River on Thursday, she discovered vehicles and busloads of starving passengers eager to get home, camping around the bank of the river waiting for the water levels to drop. She said in desperation to reach home, she begged a nearby boatman to cross her over the river, even if it meant leaving her stocks.
She mentioned that the bus carrying her stocks arrived on Saturday morning after the driver decided to take the risk of travelling through the “back road.”
Thomas had related to the Sunday Stabroek that pickups and buses are unable to cross the river, even though the river has a bridge. In addition, he revealed that surrounding creeks are also preventing vehicles from returning to where they came from. Thomas noted that this has been a continuous problem throughout the years, especially during the rainy season. However, he said, these problems would be easily solved if more attention was placed on another road which leads to Lethem.
According to Thomas, there is another road to Lethem which is usually used by villagers living in the western areas of the South Rupununi. He indicated that during rainy seasons, persons in the south usually resort to travelling along the said road, which is known as, “the back road” or “back track.” He explained that the condition of the road and the lack of a proper bridge at a creek called Makodud is the reason why people don’t use the road. He stressed that the government should place more focus on the road, as everybody will be dependent on it once the rainy season kicks in.
A village councillor from Karaudanawa, one of the villages located on the west end of the South Rupununi, related similar thoughts. She disclosed that for years the village council has been asking for an upgrade on the “back road” and the bridge at Makodud creek. She noted, however, that there are ongoing repairs being done at the Makodud Bridge. The councilor also revealed that after their request went unheard by the government, residents of Karaudanawa tried repairing the bridge themselves; the bridge then usually lasts for a few months.
In addition, she said, the Rupununi River, which also passes through Karaudanawa, is not a challenge for the “back road” during the rainy season, since the river is unable to cover the bridge, which is also in Karaudanawa. “Only the other Rupununi bridge which was built downriver gets covered during the rainy season,” she commented.
However, she said that despite the dire condition of the “back road” and the Makodud bridge, the four villages, namely Karaudanawa, Achiwuib, Parabarawau and Bassizon, continue to use the road throughout the year, especially since it is closer to Lethem. She said that traffic will increase in the village now that the rainy season has begun, especially heavy-duty vehicles, which will further damage the roads.
In relation to Sand Creek, the Headmaster of the Secondary School, Kit Spencer, told the Sunday Stabroek that the water has significantly receded and while families are not severely affected, they are suffering from problems such as lack of firewood, which they usually use for cooking. Additionally, he indicated that most people are desperately in need of footwear, considering that villagers have to walk in ankle deep water around the village. (Laurel Sutherland)
