The Providence, East Bank Demerara koker door that collapsed on Thursday was replaced yesterday at approximately 10 am.
The koker door collapsed on Thursday at approximately 2 am causing damage to property in hundreds of households in the area and triggering recriminations over who should be held responsible. Over 200 households in Providence and Peters Hall were said to be affected by flooding, with the lower flats of these houses being inundated, the Ministry of Agriculture had said on Thursday.
In telephone interviews with Stabroek News yesterday, residents said that they have not received compensation for losses incurred as a result of the collapsed koker door and subsequent flooding.
Stabroek News had visited the area on Thursday afternoon and spoke with residents who said that several complaints had been lodged with the Eccles/Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) for the koker door to be replaced but no action was taken. They related that the village is also without a pumping station, therefore when it rains, they experience constant flooding exacerbated by poor drainage facilities. Letters were also sent to the Office of the President but to date, they have not received any response on the issue.
In an interview with Stabroek News, Leena Boodhai recalled, “Abeh deh in abeh bed and hear de man ah run through the street and wake up all body and seh koker break! koker break! Pon 2 o’ clock me deh out meh bed to put up meh fridge pon de step from salt water. Water high high in meh house, meh fencing get a watermark. This thing really ah affect abeh bad bad with this koker, and if yuh see mud pon ah concrete thick thick. This is the second time this koker break, last time he bin moh bad – wah really ah go on? Some people had water till ah them waist and last time government share money when koker break and give some and left some. All abeh affected, not some, all.”
