With the main focus on draining rain-fuelled flooding from Black Bush Polder, Corentyne immediately, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha has promised that excavators will remain in each polder until the situation improves.
Mustapha along with Prime Minister Mark Phillips visited the flooded areas throughout the various polders yesterday where residents were extremely upset at the situation which has resulted in many losing their livestock, cash crops, rice and even appliances, due to the deep floodwater currently lodged in the residential and farming areas.
While areas within all of the polders were affected, residents informed that it was Yakusari, Johanna and Mibicuri which were most affected as a majority of the residents and farmers in those areas were completely flooded out.
Throughout the entire Black Bush Polder area, the dams and cross streets are in a deplorable state causing residents to be stuck at home or having to tread their way through the mud for any emergency supplies.
According to Mustapha and residents, the drainage system within the polders is not adequate to handle the amount of rainfall seen over the last couple of days. “We are seeing now within 24 hours, 5 to 6 inches of rainfall and our [drainage] system is just geared to take off 2 ½ inches of water, so that is putting a lot of stress on our drainage system.”
Mustapha said that while they tried to boost the drainage system with pumps, the heavy rainfall still resulted in major flooding. However, he stressed that immediately more pumps will be added to the system, “Hopefully we can have relief.”
In addition to this, he said, systems are being put in place to block water from the backlands coming into the housing area which has been putting “more stress” on the drainage system in the residential area throughout the polders. “Also we are trying to regulate the water coming into the housing area so that we can have fast drainage.”
At the various locations yesterday, rice farmers and residents clashed and argued bitterly as residents accused the growers of draining their rice fields into the residential areas causing the flooding and then seeking solutions from the minister which will benefit only them.
A group of women from Johanna told Stabroek News that they were stuck on their dams and had lost a number of cattle and livestock as a result of the flooding.
Meanwhile, other residents throughout the area reported to Mustapha that they have individually suffered losses in rice, cash crops, livestock, vegetables, provisions, and gardens, while others noted that if the situation is to remain the same for at least two more days, then they, too, will also suffer huge losses.
One rice farmer, Naresh, who had just returned from his rice field when Mustapha and Prime Minister Phillips visited Mibicuri, told Stabroek News that since the flooding he has been heading to the area to check on his rice every day. “We rice deh under water right now. Me alone get about 15 acre under water right now and everybody else around me flood. We can’t do nothing, we just got to sit down and watch because this water na go”, he said.
The man noted that if the water goes away within the next two days then there is a possibility that his rice crop might not be ruined. “But that can’t happen. The whole place flood,” the visibly frustrated man said.
Naresh who has been planting rice for most of his life, opined that had officials dealt with the situation from the beginning then it would not have gotten this extreme.
Another farmer then chimed in, “If the pump them deh in order and a work the water na might a raise so high.” When questioned if they were aware whether the pumps in the area were working, the man said, “Well what abbay a hear is that it a work but watch this water, me na feel that a true. The water na so deh like this.”
Grocery shop owner, Seeram Budhu, 40, said that he has lost over $200,000 so far, adding, “all me neighbours place flood out and so and that is just what me loss.”
Mustapha pledged that once the water is drained, the various agencies attached to his ministry will be assessing the situation so as to assist the residents. “I want to make a commitment here that we will try as much as possible to assist those who would have suffered losses.”
Not done
During a previous visit based on a request by residents, Mustapha had allocated several machines to the area to clear the back drains. “What we found was that some of the works we intended to do at that time was not done, so now I am assigning back that for the rest of this period, a machine in each of the four polders so that they can complete those works targeted in the first time that I came also.”
In addition to this, the minister pointed out that some of the works in the back drains were left undone after it was discovered that persons had occupied the reserve. “I have since instructed NDIA to ensure that all the reserves are cleared and the machine being allowed to complete those works in the area.”
Mustapha, who has visited Black Bush Polder numerous times since taking office, stressed, “We have done a lot of work in Black Bush Polder and we will continue to do works.”
During the meetings, Mustapha also told residents that funds have been allocated to the local Water Users Association which is responsible for cleaning and maintaining canals. “Over $140 million was allocated for works to be done here and many contractors who were owed in the previous administration, cabinet last week approved those payments amounting to $15 million [so those] who were owed money before 2020 now will be receiving that sum.”
Mustapha then ordered his ministry’s agencies to work along with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) so as to maximise the effort in handling the flood situation. “So that we can have good efforts in terms of getting the area drained as fast as possible. People are very agitated, people are very concerned and we understand that. Like I said this matter will take precedence and we will put all measures in place to get it resolved as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, Rajkumarie Jainarine, 57, a farmer who has over 1,000 plantain and banana suckers in her farm, said that due to the situation she was unable to transport her produce out of the dam to be sold. She explained that persons from Georgetown and in Berbice would purchase her produce to resell.
According to the woman, in flooding situations she would use her boat to transport her load through the trenches. However, the RDC has since built a bridge across the trench and with the height of the water she is unable to bring out her produce with her boat. “If me carry you right now you duck. We can’t pass pon the dam or carry out our load. Me want them full the whole street deh and then the bridge, them build it flat and all them rest bridge build high that boat can pass.”
According to the woman, on one of the dams there are two large holes which has caused the RDC machines to be stuck but yet officials have failed to deal with the situation previously.
Residents yesterday also complained bitterly about machine operators who they said were not paying heed to them although they begged to have certain areas dug. In one instance a female resident pointed out to Mustapha that had a certain area in Yakusari been cleared while the machine was working before the heavy rainfall then it is likely that the situation would have been different for them.
After it was queried, it was discovered that a ranger, without visiting the location, had prevented the machine from moving ahead with the residents’ request.
Mustapha then encouraged the residents, most of whom were females, to form small committees within the area so that they can oversee the machines and operators and report back to the ministry which can then take the necessary actions and decisions.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Phillips pledged food hampers and cleaning products to every household in Black Bush Polder yesterday. “In terms of relief, we will have the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) coming into the area with some food hampers and sanitation hampers to distribute to every household.” This will likely occur on Saturday.
The Prime Minister assured residents that the CDC will work along with the region and NDC so as to ensure that “every household will benefit from those supplies.”
