Four Essequibo communities were flooded yesterday due to heavy rainfall, which was compounded by a critical sluice being down for repairs.
Swetlana Kingston, of Lima Village, in Region Two, woke up to at least three inches of water in her House.
According to Kingston, who is the owner of a bakery, Aunty Otia’s Creations, the entire lower flat was inundated with water while she had seven cakes and an assortment of pastries to bake.
Kingston said that her morning was spent bailing water, placing sandbags and cleaning her lower flat. “I am frustrated; my place is in confusion. I have orders to meet. I need answers. I do not know why Lima is so flooded,” Kingston said.
Others were similarly affected.
According to Regional Vice-Chairman Humace Oodit, the Lima Sluice is currently under repairs. He said that so far several communities are flooded. The communities currently inundated are Lima, Sparta, Hampton Court, and Charity.
Four pumps are currently in operation to drain water off lands. Oodit said that the decision was made to put the Anna Regina, Lima, Charity, and Hampton Court pumps in operation. A mini-excavator was also sent to clear several drains at Lima and Charity as well.
At the time he spoke with this newspaper Oodit was in the fields assessing the situation and reports were being forwarded to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Arnold Adams, the Prime Minister’s Representative, visited the community of Lima. Many residents living in the Lima Housing Scheme complained that their livestock and kitchen garden were flooded.
Among them was Kamini Persaud, who said that her baby chickens were in the water. She said that her sons decided to rear the chickens for Christmas and she was hoping that the flood does not kill them. “The rain just fell for a few hours and all flooded. This is because the sluice is down, the trenches are overflowing, our garden flooded, we never experienced it,” Persaud said.
When this newspaper visited the Lima Sluice, works were being done. The sluice was clogged with tons of garbage. The sluice attendant was seen clearing the garbage in order for water to flow.
