Several villages on the Corentyne were flooded yesterday, following heavy rainfall on Thursday that continued throughout the evening. The residents believe that the flooding resulted from the poor drainage throughout the area.
Residents from Fyrish Village to Rose Hall, Corentyne, were affected by flooding. Region Six Vice Chairman Denis Deroop yesterday said that contracts to manually clean the drains were awarded by the region; however, it seems as though no work was done. He opined that had the drains been maintained monthly as should have been done, the possibility of flooding might have been very low.
Deroop said that he has since informed Regional Executive Officer Kim Williams-Stephen of the situation and told her of the need for emergency work to be done. He related that Stephens told him that it would be dealt with.
Meanwhile, some residents told Stabroek News that they were monitoring the rain throughout the evening on Thursday, while others said they woke up to floodwaters in their lower flat. Yaminie Mangal, of Belvedere Village, recounted that just after midnight, she started to move her electrical items from the lower flat after water began to enter. “Me had to left me house and run, me can’t even go in the toilet or nothing,” she said. “The drainage cause this because it na [drain], it a take so long fa gone, abie never get am like this, this over mark. This too much,” she added.
She called for the authorities to improve the maintenance of the drainage system within the area.
Another Belvedere resident recounted that during the wee hours of yesterday morning, water began to seep into her lower flat.
A Williamsburg resident said that her family woke up to water throughout their entire lower flat and in their yard. She said that they did not expect the water to enter their kitchen since it has never happened before.
Other residents related that they had to move their livestock and take them to places that were not flooded.
Several places of worship throughout the villages were also flooded.
The residents highlighted that the water was taking a long time to recede. One said, “They need to clean the drains now then the water go run out fast. Me ain’t know when last me see people clearing them areas hay.”
The residents are pleading with the authorities to deal with the matter immediately.
