The National Taskforce on Flooding led by Prime Minister Mark Phillips met on Saturday to ensure that all steps are in place to proactively manage the current rainy season.
According to a release on Saturday from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Hydrometeorological Service, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has stated that the country is experiencing the La Nina phase of weather but that so far all systems are operational to ensure that residents are not significantly affected by the rain and inundation.
Residents of the Pomeroon and other parts of the country have complained about deep flooding just months after they had experienced inundation.
While high levels of rainfall have been recorded over the past two weeks, the CDC said that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is working to ensure impact to households and farmlands is minimized. Farms in Region 2 – where many complaints have originated – have been assessed. It has been determined that some crops have been damaged due to floodwaters and the Agriculture Ministry is working with those farmers to alleviate the issue.
The CDC said it has received reports of affected households along the coast but drainage machinery in those areas is operational and most of the water has receded. Those areas, it said, include but are not limited to Annandale/Riverstown of Region 2; Wakenaam, Leguan and Canals Polder of Region 3; Plaisance, La Bonne Intention and Buxton of Region 4; and Moraikobai Village of Region 5.
In some of these areas, the CDC said that excavators and pumps are working consistently to ensure the water levels decrease. Additionally, Community Infrastructure Improvement Project workers have been mobilized and are assisting Regional Authorities in several locations.
Residents can expect continuous rain throughout the new week and are urged to remain vigilant and report impacts to local authorities or the National Emergency Monitoring System on 600-7500 or 226-1114 at any time.
