Most of the residents of West Coast Demerara villages that were flooded on Sunday after the overtopping of sea defences due to spring tides have not experienced any recurrence, which they credit to the prompt response to the situation by the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) and other authorities.
However, a few persons residing in the Den Amstel and Fellowship villages said that their homes or business places were still being affected and they are bracing themselves for today’s high tide. A resident of Fellowship told Stabroek News yesterday that on Monday morning her entire yard was flooded and her family had no choice but to stay indoors. “We just stay indoors ’cause I didn’t want my children to get sick,” she said. However, she added that persons who she believes were employed by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) came to clean and “dig” the trenches surrounding her home and the yard hasn’t flooded since then. However, she said she took the necessary precautions yesterday and is going to take them today.
Meanwhile, Nichole Hector, a resident of Den Amstel who is the supervisor of Ebenezer Play Group and a member of the Ebenezer Congregational Church, said that water is still in both establishments and she was hopeful that they would receive assistance in cleaning up. She noted her belief that both establishments, built on the “lowest land” in the area and not protected, were the worst affected. However, Hector said that she was advised not to clean because of the high tide today. In addition, she says, the Playschool hasn’t been opened or cleaned since Saturday. “A lot of mess we have to clean after the final tide tomorrow,” she said.
Bagwattie Persaud, 34, who lives not far from the church and school, agreed with Hector, saying she believes that the two institutions were the worst hit in the neighbourhood as she had seen “a lot of things” floating around the yard. In addition, she said that another day care, which is closer to her, has also been severely affected. “All them chair floating around and them sponge and all them thing day care does get,” she said.
The day care, like the other two establishments mentioned, has been closed since Saturday. Like many others, Persaud said that she hasn’t experienced any major flooding since Sunday but added that she will not be taking any risks and is taking all the necessary precautions. Further, she said that since Saturday persons who own vehicles, including her, have been parking them near to the public road. “Everybody ah sleep in them house but them car deh on the road,” she stated.
However, in communities like Blankenburg, Cornelia Ida and Anna Catherina, persons said Sunday afternoon was the last time they experienced flooding caused by the spring tides. They credited the prompt response by various organisations, like the Sea and River Defence Department, Civil Defence Commission, the RDC, the NDCs and various private companies that responded or assisted them with supplies.
An Anna Catherina resident, who wished not to be named, said, “We haven’t flooded since Sunday and them people come and help we, give us clean up supplies, sandbags and dig up the trenches. So them trenches flooding but since Sunday we haven’t been affected and I want to thank God and them people who help.” She said, however, they were advised to take the necessary precaution.
Davion Mars, of Blankenburg, said that there was no recurrence of the flooding which occurred and the residents who were affected “are doing fine now.” In a previous interview, Mars commended the organisations that did not waste a moment in repairing sea defences.
Around 3 am on Saturday, residents who reside close to the sea defences for several villages on the West Coast, including La Jalousie, Blankenburg, Den Amstel, Fellowship, Cornelia Ida, Anna Catherina and Uitvlugt were affected by the overtopping of the sea defences caused by high tides. The Director General of the Civil Defence Commission, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, said that at least 240 homes on the West Coast were affected by the spring tides flooding. Craig said that they were working with the RDC, the Sea and River Defence Department and private companies to ensure that residents were prepared for the coming high tides.