Flood-affected residents in Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder, yesterday in a state of frustration burned some tyres along the Mibicuri Public Road in their attempt to block the Regional Vice Chairman, Zamal Hussain, who was present in the area to check on works, from leaving.
According to information gathered, the residents became annoyed after officials at the level of the Neighbourhood Democra-tic Council decided to block a conduit which leads from Mibicuri to Lesbeholden, Black Bush Polder.
It would appear that the residents in Mibicuri wanted the tube to remain open to drain their polder but after the NDC officials noticed the water rising in Lesbeholden they decided to close the conduit.
Stabroek News was told that while there is a pump at Eversham to pump water from Lesbeholden, the water was still rising with the Mibicuri water being allowed to drain into that polder which was least affected by the flooding throughout Black Bush Polder.
As of last evening, efforts were being made to add a new pump at Eversham which will be used to drain the water from Lesbeholden and then the conduit will be opened for the water from Mibicuri to drain into Lesbeholden and then pumped out.
However, the Mibicuri residents who are worried that if the water remains longer it will further destroy and damage their crops, livestock and cattle, decided to protest last evening.
After police arrived on the scene and put out the burning tires, three Mibi-curi residents were arrested.
Commander of Region Six, Jairam Ramlakhan, last evening confirmed the arrests, noting that while there were more persons “misbehaving” when police started to make arrests, they quickly fled the scene.
Meanwhile, Stabroek News was told that there was a breakaway in the savannahs in Yakusari which has since been blocked while other conduits have been blocked as well as efforts intensify in an attempt to drain the flooded polders.
As of last evening, machines remained in the area to carry out emergency works.
