Vendors and stallholders were left in a state of frustration yesterday after heavy rain resulted in a build-up of water in the town of New Amsterdam and East Canje Berbice.
While Pitt Street, New Amsterdam quickly flooded as it normally does during a downpour, some stallholders in the New Amsterdam Market were forced to put up a tarpaulin to protect their stalls as best as they could as the roof began leaking.
According to one vendor, the water started to get in from the market’s roof flooding his stall. In order to protect his freezer and stall he quickly put up the tarpaulin. However, he added, that the water getting in has caused his stall’s roof to swell.
He stressed, that he has reported the issue pertaining to the roof multiple times.
Last Friday President Irfaan Ali during an outreach in Region Six commissioned a new pump in Tucber Park, New Amsterdam for $45m and announced that a pump would be placed at Pitt Street to assist with the ongoing issue.
The Regional Vice Chairman of Region Six, Zamal Hussain visited the areas where there were reports of flooding yesterday. He said, “The downpour from last night to now resulted in the build of water in various areas.”
Hussain stated that the Tucber Park pump was in full operation to assist with alleviating the situation. Furthermore, Hussain said, that the pump for Pitt Street is currently being fabricated and is likely to be installed in the next few days while clearing of culverts will be done to “ensure a free flow of water when the pump is working so the water can be drained in a much faster way.”
He pointed out that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is carrying out major cleaning works in the main drainage in New Amsterdam as well. “There is still some amount of work to be done in Stanleytown and central New Amsterdam.”
Meanwhile, as of yesterday, Hussain said that there weren’t many reports of flooding in agricultural areas “but I will keep doing the checks and if there is I will update you.”
In East Canje Berbice there were reports of flooding in Canefield, Cumberland, Adelphi, Fort Ordinance, and other areas.
Stabroek News was told that the Rose Hall Estate dispatched several tractor pumps to assist with the situation throughout the Canje area.
