Minister Shadick discusses drainage issues with Wakenaam residents
-returns to Leguan today
Georgetown, GINA, January 18, 2006
Minister within the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Bibi Shadick, visited Wakenaam, in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) on January 17 to undertake an assessment of the situation on the island and to hold meetings with residents and farmers on ways to improve the drainage system.
The Minister was in the Region following a special Cabinet decision on January 16 where Head of State, President Bharrat Jagdeo instructed that Ministers visit flood-affected communities to undertake flood interventions and to continue assessments of the situation on the ground.
Minister Shadick expressed her satisfaction with the overall outcome of her assessments on the island.
“I am very pleased with my visit to Wakenaam. What we saw there was much better than in Leguan. There is a trench however, 700 rods from Zeelandia estate that needs to be dug.” The Minister had visited Leguan the previous day.
Minister Shadick indicated that instructions were given to have the work undertaken at Zeelandia at an estimated cost of $500,000.
Meetings were held with residents and farmers at Zeelandia and Maria’s Pleasure. It was brought to the attention of the Minister that some residents on the island had cut dams for irrigation purposes during the dry season, and this has contributed to the increased water on the land.
“Government’s priority is to ensure that the water is drained off the land. The water is draining off but, a bit slowly and the people need to be patient, it’s a lot of water and it will take some time,” Minister Shadick told Zeelandia residents.
Minister Shadick today revisited Leguan to follow up on instructions given to improve the drainage system.
Minister of Public Service, Dr. Jennifer Westford also returned to Mahaica Creek today to oversee the relief exercise and to further assess the situation.
Dr. Westford has been visiting the Creek since Monday, and yesterday she took in animal feed for affected cattle farmers, after discussions the previous day.
President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday took an aerial view of flooded communities in Region Five and Six. He said it was government’s priority to drain the land, as he held discussions with residents of affected communities in Region Six
TOP
Surveillance teams working in flood hit communities, more health teams fan out
Georgetown , GINA, January 18, 2006
A number of surveillance teams are currently involved in collecting and relaying information to the Ministry of Health, to inform responses to the medical situation in flood-affected communities.
Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said that the Public Health epidemiologists are gathering information from health teams in several areas to determine what health situation may be emerging, and based on this information, the Ministry will determine what additional response is needed.
He said laboratory teams are also out in the areas collecting specimens of water and faeces for testing.
“So far, in terms of this year’s flood situation thus far, we have not seen anything to cause us undue alarm, we have not seen a significant increase of flood-related diseases, but we continue to monitor the situation and will continue to provide support,” Minister Ramsammy said.
So far mostly cases of itching and rashes have been reported, according to Minister Ramsammy, and from November last only five cases of leptospirosis have been detected. These are being treated.
The health response was strengthened today with more teams sent into Region Five communities severely affected by the flood. This measure is in addition to the daily visits of the medical teams in the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary Rivers.
According to the Regional Health Services Department of the Ministry, teams have been dispatched to the following areas: Bath Settlement- at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) health centre, Hopetown- at the West Berbice Youth Association Building and at the Britannia health centre.
Teams comprising medexes and public health nurses were also sent to Belladrum, Number 28 and Waterloo villages West Berbice, Sandvoort and Bohemia in Region Six and to Pomeroon, Region Two and Canal Number 2 Polder, Region Three.
In other affected areas where there are health centres, these are providing services to residents.
TOP
Flood update:
Georgetown, GINA, January 18, 2006
As Government continues to monitor the flood situation around the country, Ministers are presently in various regions to do on-the-spot checks and to oversee relief efforts.
The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) report issued today stated that there are reports of flooding in Regions 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 as well as reports of high waters in some areas in Region Four. All pumps and sluices continue to operate.
This report was issued by the D&I Authority today:
- Flooding continues within the upper reaches of the Mahaica and Mahaicony Creek as well within De-Hoop
- The Mahaica,Mahaicony,Abary/Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) is monitoring the situation within the Mahaicony Creek and undertaking necessary works.
Region One
- According to the Regional Information Officer of Region One (Barima/Waini), Jude Hernandez, for the past three weeks, the Region has been experiencing some exceptionally heavy rainfall daily
- Following inspections by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC),most of the farms in low-lying areas were under
- Creole poultry farmers have also suffered losses
- Responding to the situation, a team, comprising Regional Vice-Chairman, Fermin Singh, Agriculture Field Assistant, Charles Romascindo, Community Development Officer, Victor Boyer and Livestock Assistant, Anthony Robinson visited a number of farms in the low lying riverain areas of the Barima, Kaituma, Aruka, Waini, and Koraibo rivers recently, in order to have a first-hand assessment of what damages may have been caused by the excessive rainfall on farms.
- Rains continue persistently
Region Two
- In the Pomeroon River, Charity housing area, Anna Regina, Perseverance and low areas along the Essequibo Coast, there are reports of high waters especially in Westbury, Somerset, Dartmouth and Perseverance. The main canal is overtopping along with the Capoey conservancy.
All sluices are said to be ‘ok’ and are operating with the water from the main canal being discharged at Uno Creek, Somerset and Berks.
There is overtopping along low areas of the Golden Fleece conservancy as well as the low areas of the main canal embankment
The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) is to undertake works on the Capoey embankment while water will be discharged from the Ituribisi conservancy through Riverstown Relief, South Head through Supenaam River. There is to also be the raising of the Capoey Conservancy embankment
Region Three
- There are reports of flooding in Canal Number One and Two Polders, with high waters in the Polders, Pouderoyen, Parfait Harmonie and Dorn Hogg, Leguan Island
- All sluices and pumps are operating with mechanical cleaning of the main canals of Canal No. 1 and 2 in progress and other necessary drainage works ongoing at Canal No. 2-Belle West, Resource and Middlesex and at Canal No. 1 –L’Esperance and Orange Field.
- A pump has been installed at Dorn Hogg, Leguan Island and is operating
Region Four
- There are reports of flooding at Craig and Friendship backlands with further reports of high waters on the East Coast Demerara backlands area, Two Friends- Ann’s Grove and Montrose, Goed Hope.
- There are two electrical pumps at Strathavon operating during the non sluicing period
- All sluices and outfalls are functioning
Region Five
- Reports of flooding in the upper reaches of the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary Creeks with reports of high waters in Broomlands and Handsome Tree canal and low areas along the Coast
- All sluices and pumps are in operation
- The MMA installed a pump at Bellamy Canal (Abary End). This is in operation.
- The NDIA/ Region are working on check structures at Mortice and Sukdeo canals
- Pump to be placed at Onverwagt this afternoon
- Cleaning of drains and outlets at Belladrum, Ithaca, Cotton Tree, Bush Lot, Hamlet and Woodley Park to Bel Air has commenced
Region Six
- There are reports of flooding within the No.19 area, Whim, Fyrish, Gibraltar and low areas along the Coast with further reports of high waters in the No. 19 area, Yakusari, Johanna, 52-74 area and Port Mourant
- All sluices and pumps are in operation with an additional pump installed at Joppa by the RDC
- The RDC has undertaken cleaning of residential drains in Yakusari and Johanna and work is continuing
- Work has also been undertaken by the RDC on the No.43 Sluice
- A pump has been installed at Seawell
- Raising the embankment at No.19 ongoing
Region Ten
- There are no reports of flooding but reports of high waters at West Watooka and Wismar with minor erosion in Wismar.
Georgetown
- There are reports of flooding in sections of Queenstown and Sophia as well as reports of high waters within low areas of Sophia, Bourda and Queenstown
- The City Engineer’s Department reported that all pumps are in operation except the Kitty electrical pump and the Princess Street pump which are under repairs
- The D&I mobile pump at Liliendaal is functioning along with the mobile pump at Kitty
Guysuco
- There are reports of minor flooding in low sections of the Skeldon Estate with reports of high water within the backlands.
- All sluices and pumps are in operation.
East Demerara Water Conservancy
- The present level is 58.40 GD with an average dam level of 59.0 GD
- Water is being discharged into the Demerara river through the five door sluice at Land of Canaan and Kofi and into the Maduni Creek through the Maduni relief structure with two additional drainage pumps installed at Land of Canaan. These are operating.
The Boerasirie Water Conservancy
- The present level is 61.95 GD.
- Water is being discharged into the Essequibo River through the five-door sluice at Waramia, at Naamryck and at Potosi.
TOP
Budget day is January 23
- PSC welcomes government’s commitment to build partnership
Georgetown, GINA, January 18, 2006
President Bharrat Jagdeo has announced that the 2006 National Budget of Income and Expenditure will be presented to Parliament on Monday, January 23.
The President made this statement while he was in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) yesterday assessing the flood situation there. He informed residents at Canefield New Housing Scheme, Canje that with the budget presentation set for January 23, money will be made available for Region Six to have four excavators.
Meanwhile, a release issued by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has indicated that members of the Private Sector were able to share their views on the way forward with the President when they met to consult on the 2006 Budget on January 16.
“The PSC welcomed the government’s commitment to building a partnership for development through ongoing consultations with the Private Sector and looks forward to the opportunity for increased private sector investment and growth.” the release stated.
At the consultation, the government informed the PSC that it has decided to postpone the implementation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) and Excise Legislation until January 2007.
According to the release, the President advised the PSC at this meeting that government was not in favour of ad hoc consultations and preferred the process of ongoing and continuous consultations with the Private Sector through the Enhancing National Competitiveness Strategy Programme which embraces all the issues of economic development and is expressly focused on a partnership between government and the Private Sector.” The PSC said it concurred with this point of view and welcomed the assurances given by the President.
The PSC further said that the President explained that the country’s economy had been severely stressed by the floods in the early part of the year and that agricultural production, especially sugar and rice, had been seriously affected.
He told the meeting that it was heartening that the country’s economy had benefited from significant growth in other sectors enabling it to meet its economic targets and sustain fundamental economic projections.
President Jagdeo, along with Minister of Finance, Saisnarine Kowlessar and his budget team met with other private sector bodies, the Trades Union Congress and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana at this consultation.
TOP
Prime Minister hands over hymac to Region 10
Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce Mansoor Nadir speaking at the Accommodation Workshop held at the Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel. Present at the workshop were Mr. Shaun McGrath of Cara Hotels, Mr. Donald Sinclair of University of Guyana Tourism Unit and Mr Geoffrey Da Silva of Go-Invest
Georgetown, GINA, January 18, 2006
Central Government today presented a hymac to the Linden Town Council in Region Ten (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice) to assist in executing various drainage works through out the mining town.
Presenting the equipment on government’s behalf was Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds who was accompanied by a team of government officials including Head of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, Ravi Naraine.
Accepting the hymac for the Town Council was regional Executive Officer, Henry Rodney, Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chairman, Orin Gordon and Regional Vice Chairman, Joy Walton.
According to the Prime Minister, “because of the presence of the bauxite company the majority of the town’s needs were provided for by the company.”
However, he noted that, “we are in a new era and there are significant activities and developments occurring outside of the bauxite company and this surfaces the need for more to be done in the areas of drainage and other work sectors.”
Government has over the years placed increased emphasis on the development of the mining town. Testimony to this is the development of the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP), which provides technical support, training and accommodation to small entrepreneurs via the Linden Economic Advancement Fund (LEAF) and the Business Incubator. TOP
Preparatory drainage works averted major flood disaster – President Jagdeo
Georgetown, GINA, January 18, 2006
Following the January 2005 flood disaster, extensive works and preventative measures were undertaken to boost the drainage system. This has significantly contributed to a major flood disaster being averted, in wake of recent high intensity rainfall over the last several weeks.
President Bharrat Jagdeo made these remarks today at State House, where he updated the media on the flood situation in several communities along the coastland, and government’s interventions to intensify efforts to drain the land.
Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam)
During a visit to Pomeroon on January 11, the Head of State indicated that the water level was receding in most of the affected areas. However, high intensity rainfall last weekend has resulted in the water rising even higher.
“Over the weekend we had extremely intensive rainfall especially in the interior areas. This caused problems in the Capoey and Mashabo areas which led to an overflow of the dam there.”
The Charity area has flooded once again and the level of the Pomeroon River has risen. Several coastal villages and low-lying areas have been affected.
The Lima, Anna Regina and Pomona Housing Schemes have been adversely affected as the water level continued to rise.
The President lauded the efforts of the farmers who participated in work toward assisting to drain flood water.
Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation Clement Rohee who was dispatched by Head of State to the area, has been there over the past two days where assessment of the situation is ongoing.
Five pumps are now operational in Charity to drain the area; however, while the water level has receded in several coastal areas, it is still high in the Pomeroon, Charity and some other locations on the Essequibo Coast.
Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara)
President Jagdeo said Ministerin the Ministry of Human Services Bibi Shadick during her visits to the affected areas noted that the situation in Wakenaam, one of the islands at the mouth of the Essequibo River is not critical and the current rice crop has not been significantly affected; however, the situation in central Leguan has worsened.
“The Minister is scheduled to revisit the area and additional support will be provided to the NDC there.”
The water level is still very high in Canal No. 1 and 2 Polders although a channel has been opened in Canal No. 2 enabling water to flow to the sea.
‘In No 1 (Canal) and parts of No 2, the water is very high and they have an additional complication now because some of the water is coming from the Clay Brick area.”
The Regional Administration has since briefed the President on remedial measures that they hope to take to reduce the water.
The President noted that a large percentage of the coastland is below sea level; as such it is susceptible to flooding. He said assistance will be rendered primarily to areas severely affected.
“I want you to understand that many other areas outside of the areas that are mentioned had water, but I am not going to deal with areas that had maybe two days of water.”
Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica)
There is some water is backlands of Victoria, Buxton and other areas.
“We anticipate that with one or two days of sunshine and tides flowing that the water should flow off the land,” the President said.
He said from reports received from Ministers Anthony Xavier and Manzoor Nadir, it was noted that there was water in North, South and West Ruimveldt areas but, that the water receded quickly. However, in some parts of these areas the water is moving very slowly because the internal drains are not in good order.
“In Sophia we had to do some remedial work in ‘D’ field which led to the draining of the area, Cummings Lodge moved of quickly too, because of the work we did in Region Four. While we had some areas under water because of the work that was done we have managed to get the water down to where it was manageable.”
“The big threat to Region Four and Five was the EDWC; if action was not taken it would have led to serious problems.” On January 16, the D&I Authority took the decision to blow the Maduni sluice at the EDWC, to relieve the threat to the dam as a result of increasing water level.
The water level has come down from 58.55GD to 58.35; the President said, and noted that if it goes down to 58 GD, then the Maduni sluice can be closed.
“Had we not done the work we did over the past year, that is to take a lot of the water into the Demerara River, then with these levels of rainfall we would have had to release water earlier, but because most of the water was chanelled out….the decision had to be taken.”
A present there are 200 workers working on the EDWC, along with machinery and 20,000 clay bags being laid to fortify it.
Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice)
“This region is in serious crisis, especially in the riverain areas. Coastal areas have some flooding but the water has receded in many parts.”
The Head of State said the water level in Mahaica remains constant but rose a bit in the Abary and Mahaicony creeks. He said that it is anticipated that it will remain there for sometime.
He indicated that centers have been set up in the Mahaica and Mahaicony areas as well as a smaller unit in the Abary area. The personnel in charge of them have been meeting with the people, they have provided pontoons to move the cattle, feed for them and are trying to get more feed into the area. He said that lots of cattle died in the Abary Creek.
“We are faced with serious situation because we don’t have enough feed and the animals are wild in many cases.”
Asked about the importation of feed, he said that the time the feed would take to reach Guyana, may not be practical, but he did not rule out the possibility.
There are medical teams in the areas, he explained while noting that no major flood- related diseases have been reported.
In the Mahaica area, they are preparing the Biabu School in the event that people want to evacuate in the Mahaicony area while the Gordon Table School is being looked at. He said about 27 persons would have to be moved from the Mahaicony area.
Excavators are being used in the Mahaicony area in an effort to save rice fields.
He explained that there were some problems in West Berbice at Belladrum, Rising Sun, Experiment, Bath, Waterloo, and Number 28 -30 villages and government would be sending in some equipment. Additionally, a pump is to be installed today at Onverwagt.
Government will be monitoring these areas, he said.
Region Six ( East Berbice /Corentyne)
President Bharrat Jagdeo told the media he was in the Region in the communities of Cane field, Fort Ordnance, Fyrish, Gibraltar, Number 19, Whim, and Nigg which are all affected by the flood.
“Minister Nawbatt is in the Region monitoring the situation, If there was timely management they would not have been affected to that extent. We are sending medical teams to those areas,” he said
“We hope that we can continue to have fair weather, for if we do, then we can get out of this situation.”
Meanwhile, in response to a question from the media with regard to the real reason why ministers are going out in the field, bringing into question whether the regional people are incompetent, the Head of State, said ministers of his government have to take a proactive approach to the situation.
“They have to be out there when we have problems. They are in regular contact with their peers, enabling decisions to be fast-tracked. Having my Ministers in the field brings the collective power of the State to citizens’ assistance,” the President said.
Noting that flooding is inevitable and is being fuelled by climate change, among other factors, the President said that short term measures such as improving the storage capacity of the conservancy, keeping the drainage system clear, and returning to the system of draining the land via kokers would have to be instituted.
He noted that long- term measures such as initiating the second phase of the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary Development Authority (MMA/ADA) scheme would cost in excess of US$40M.
“At this point in time it is difficult for us to raise that money, so in the short- term we have to do some remedial work,” the Head of State said.
Empoldering is also an effective method of protecting farmlands against flooding. This technique, the President said is currently being practised by several farmers in the Mahaicony River.
|
