According to the Secretary of the Sea and River Defence Board (S&RDB), Jermaine Braithwaite, works commenced yesterday and will continue into this morning to raise the level of the lands where an overtopping at the community of Zeelandia, Wakenaam, Essequibo River known as ‘Ganga’, was brought on by a high tide.
Braithwaite explained that the S&RDB is aware that there has been flooding due to the tide and noted that the engineer and contractor are onsite and have been working to reduce the overtopping. He said that the work started last evening and will continue well into the morning. He added that in wake of the overtopping, the contractor has gathered the necessary equipment to begin building up the land and that erosion control was also expected to be done throughout last night. He also informed that work was authorised late last year and due to commence where the overtopping was taking place. Further, he stressed that the overtopping was not caused by any sea defence breaches. “What is happening is [there is] a lower sector of embankment where [a] significant discharge of water is overtopping,” which will be mitigated by building up the land. He reminded that overtopping has been reported at the site before but that the flooding was not usually as extensive.
A statement by the Civil Defence Commission said that flooding in the area has not directly affected residents or households but that nearby rice fields and coconut plantations were inundated by the floodwaters. The CDC noted that the Neighbourhood Democratic Council and the contractor for the Zeelandia sea defence are working to relieve the residents of the flooding.