Amid continuing rain in all regions, President Irfaan Ali yesterday announced in Region Six that the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has advised that the countrywide flooding is now a Level 2 Disaster and supplementary funding is to be sought at Parliament today.
Ali along with Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall and a team of officials visited a number of flood-affected communities throughout the Corentyne.
At Chesney, President Ali said, “The CDC advised this morning that the disaster is a Level 2 Disaster so that we can now move the situation to the international community to get international support.”
According to the President, they are working on a supplementary provision to take to parliament to seek more resources to assist with the current situation the country is facing.
The team yesterday visited the Fyrish/Gibraltar area, Kilcoy/ Chesney New Housing Scheme, Chesney Old Housing Scheme, Port Mourant, Manchester, Mibicuri, Johana, Number 52/Number 53, Number 59 Village and Number 70 Village, Corentyne.
At the various locations, President Ali reiterated, “We are going to support you after the flood, we will support farmers… I could have asked the ministers to give me a report but I am here and we understand and we care. We would like to put a pump all over but we don’t have enough pumps, the reality we are dealing with is the volume of water.”
Colonel Kester Craig, the head of the CDC, who was also present, committed to continuing to distribute hampers and cleaning supplies to persons in the region, and at one location in the Upper Corentyne they will be setting up a shelter after residents agreed to same after informing the President that they could no longer remain in their flooded house.
At the Fyrish location, President Ali assured those gathered that they will continue to help every single community across Guyana affected by floodwaters.
He stressed, “I want you to be assured that the Government will be with you throughout this process.”
According to the President his outreaches yesterday were “to let you know that the situation is far from over, but we are going to be here throughout. The same support that you talk about that the Government gave you in the initial phase will continue… I want to assure you that we are going to be with you, we are going to help in the rebuilding process, and we are going to support the rebuilding process.”
He also said, “I am going to every single community across our country to let people understand and to know we are concerned about the situation and we want to help, and we will be helping… So I’m here this morning to assure you as President that every single community will be served.”
However, he told the residents that presently the main concern is the immediate needs for affected communities which include food, shelter and health supplies. At various locations where persons reported to the president that the lower flat of their homes remained under water, he offered to have shelters set up. However, only at one location in the Upper Corentyne area were residents open to this solution.
Mustapha at the various locations disclosed that machines and pumps were working in all the affected areas, while in some areas feed and veterinary services were offered.
President Ali also relayed yesterday that private machines in Region Six and other regions were all being utilised.
A resident in Gibraltar told the President that he had over 90 pigs and 60 ducks which were all affected, while over in Kilcoy-Chesney New Housing Scheme residents also reported huge losses of livestock.
A resident in Kilcoy also requested medical supplies as he told the President that he has been facing off with reptiles every day since the flood.
Residents in Port Mourant asked that the Good Hope Relief Canal on the East Coast be emulated in various sections of the region while others told the president that they were in need of hampers.
At the meeting in Port Mourant the residents were somewhat vociferous as they congregated in small groups and spoke loudly to each other while other residents raised their issues with the President.
Several times the President along with others attempted to quiet the crowd but to no avail. However, despite this the President remained and listened to those who raised their issues and made some on-the-spot interventions.
Meanwhile, at several locations residents questioned about the “oil money” accruing to the country and whether it would be distributed to households. However, President Ali highlighted that his government had not spent a cent of the funds, as he stressed, “I am here to tell you that we understand the hardship and we are going to support you after the flood to get back to your livelihood.”
He said that today the government will return to parliament where they will request more funds to deal with the ongoing situation throughout the country. He said, “We understand and we care that’s why we are here.”
Also, at several locations residents complained bitterly about NDC staff who they said were not working to standard.
In Manchester it was reported to Ali that several livestock and cash crop farmers were severely affected as one resident even claimed that every time a machine is sent to the village it is quickly relocated before completing the assigned work.
The President requested Mustapha to look into the matter immediately, as he said, “What I want is this country working together. What I want is everyone working together to uplift each other. That is all I want”.
In Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder (BBP) residents relayed, that while the water had drained on Tuesday it has since returned following the heavy showers.
In Johanna, BBP, Ali said that while the short term goal is to get the water off of the land as soon as possible, one of the long-term plans is to have one drainage canal taking water into the area and one taking water out, so as to establish control should a similar situation arise in the future.
Residents in that area also requested bottled water as they complained that their pipes are covered and mixed with chemicals-laced water coming from the rice fields.
In the Number 52/Number 53 and Number 70 areas, rice farmers said they were in need of financial help as they owed millers, gas stations and other persons.
One rice farmer stated, that he only got to cut 24 bags of paddy as he estimated his losses to be $2.5 M so far. “If ayo can help abbay pay the people money back”, the man asked the President.
According to the farmer, previously due to a similar situation he had to sell his tractor to pay his debts after he suffered losses.
President Ali then indicated to Mustapha that they will look to meet with millers, creditors and persons from the banking system.
One rice famer also told the President that if financial support was given to him from the government to pay his debts then he would work to repay the money to the government as he is afraid of the persons he owes seizing his machinery.
Meanwhile, at all of the locations residents complained of the need for works to be carried out on the drains and canals, while some noted that the drains were blocked due to persons dumping garbage at the location.
Kokerite Savannah
As of yesterday, cattle farmers continued to work to move their animals to higher ground as the water from the Canje Creek and other areas was still overtopping.
One cattle farmer said that he has over 700 head of cattle and while he has relocated the majority from Kokerite Savannah he still has 200 head “left drowning.”
Ali asked then what immediate help he needed and he disclosed that he was in need of 10 coils of wire and poles which Mustapha agreed to give.
The Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) has been producing feed at the Skeldon Estate which it is distributing to farmers for their animals. Presently, the GLDA is completing over 120 bags per day and is looking to now supply Region Five also.
Also, the GLDA has since found several locations throughout the region where animals can be relocated. Some of those areas are located in Letter Kenny, Skeldon and Tain.
