Some residents of Kwakwani, in Region 10, are bracing themselves for more losses as floodwaters in the community are once again rising.
According to Regional Chairman Deron Adams, waters had significantly receded along the Kwakwani waterfront, so much so that the roadway was visible. However, now water levels have risen to as much as eight feet in some places, he said.
Flooding has persisted due to continuing rainfall.
Adams also told Sunday Stabroek that within the region there are still more than 100 persons in government shelters and those still in the community are struggling to cope with reptiles in their homes.
“There are 49 persons housed at the Forestry Compound, 18 at Aroaima, 30 at Kwakwani Primary, six at the Kwakwani Hostel, 16 at Hururu and eight at Rockstone,” he said.
Stabroek News reported on July 5 that residents were returning to their homes to assess damage since floodwaters were “quickly receding”. At that time Regional Councillor Elroy Adolph told this newspaper that a majority of the streets and homes were free of floodwater, and expressed the hope that all the water would’ve been gone by the end of the month provided the weather held.
Homeowners had already begun moving back and cleaning.
“They prefer to do this instead of waiting for when the water is completely gone,” he had said while expressing concerns about the structural stability of the buildings.
“These houses have been underwater for weeks so I have told them to be careful when going into their homes. I told them to walk with a carpenter also to check and see what damages the house got if any. We have to be very careful because we don’t know what has been compromised due to the floods,” he said at the time.
Based on images shared with Sunday Stabroek, Adolph’s concerns were sound. This newspaper has been provided with images of two houses which were split in two by the force of the floods.
While the National Assembly has passed a $10 billion supplemental appropriate for flood relief, including infrastructure works, it remains unclear what form these works with take.
