Government’s timely response during heavy rains reduced flooding effect on Guyanese
A GINA, Feature
The recent heavy rains undoubtedly resulted in some amount of damage in certain vulnerable areas especially on the coastlands of the country.
However, unlike the 2005 floods which heaved tremendous pressure on the city’s frail drainage system, today, with significant investments to the tune of billions of dollars in the strengthening of the drainage and irrigation systems throughout the country and constant capacity building of the system, Guyanese are minimally affected by heavy rains.
On February 20, three to five inches of rainfall was recorded on the coastland and over 10 inches were experienced in far-flung areas like St Cuthbert’s Mission.
After 24 hours of constant rainfall, President BharratJagdeo’s concern for the well being of citizens and his aptitude for leading by example caused him to brave the heavy rains to conduct a first-hand assessment of areas in Georgetown and its affected environs. During the walk about, the Head of State appealed to residents to take all necessary precautions in light of predictions of more heavy rain for another 24 hours.
President Jagdeo speaks with city residents during his recent walk-about to assess flooded areas
The Head of State, accompanied by Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Kellawan Lall, visited Albouystown, South Georgetown and Meadow Brook, where they explained to residents the weather predictions and the precautionary measures that were necessary since the figures released by the Hydromet office implied that more rain had fallen in the entire month than was usually expected.
Several Ministers and other relevant authorities also conducted regular spot checks at various parts of the country on the President’s instruction.
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn and Minister of Local Government Kellawan Lall inspecting the pumps at Liliendaal
“The intensity of the rain is huge, it’s all part of this La Nina phenomenon… with so many areas saturated and already the water on the land, it complicates the situation tremendously to get the water out,” President Jagdeo said.
Emergency Hotline
A special hotline service headed by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds was among the interventions taken by Government in light of the heavy rains and rising water levels. The hotline service provided the channel for persons to make contact in cases of emergency, while the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and health authorities were on high alert.
President Jagdeo committed to providing the necessary assistance to affected communities.
“We’re out in the fields, we’re gathering information, we’re going to try to bring some assistance to those most affected,” President Jagdeo assured during his walk-about.
Regional Networking
Constant contact with Chairmen of the various regions was maintained which allowed the relevant bodies in the city to keep abreast with the state of affairs in these areas.
Following assessments of low lying areas in Regions four, five and six which are extremely vulnerable of geographic location, strict monitoring of the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) was conducted.
President Bharrat Jagdeo and Government Ministers Robeson Benn and Kellawan Lall assess the flood situation during the recent heavy rains
The President himself remained involved in the entire ordeal as he requested constant updates from the regional bodies about the situation.
Government continued to assess the impact of the recent heavy rainfall on communities while taking a number of interventions to assist communities along the East Coast Demerara corridor to bring relief to the residents.
Additional equipment deployed
Several additional pumps were deployed to hasten drainage in communities where water was receding at a slow pace.
Two were deployed to the Friendship/Buxton pump station where water was receding slowly on the land where many villagers rear livestock and cultivate crops.
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn and Minister of Local Government Kellawan Lall inspecting ongoing works at canals at Liliendaal
The pumps will work on a 24 hour basis until the situation is alleviated.
In addition, an excavator was deployed to clean the silted and garbage filled canals to improve the water flow to the Liliendaal pump station.
Relief systems activated
In ensuring adequate preparations in the event of an emergency, the Civil Defence Commission’s (CDC’s) National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) was activated and conducted 24 hour monitoring of the flood situation.
Additionally, relief supplies such as sleeping material were positioned for transport to relief shelters should the need arise.
President Bharrat Jagdeo walk through a flood area on his walk-about during the heavy rains recently
The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) was contacted to provide a Geographic Information System (GIS) specialist to assist with the preparations of maps.
In addition to the Guyana Relief Council’s shelter (GRC), the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Night Shelter located in East La Penitence was also made available to be used as a shelter for persons who may have been displaced as a result of flood waters.
However, there have been no reports of persons reporting to the two established shelters.
Continued flood monitoring
Government continues to monitor the effect of the rains based on the reports by Chief Hydromet Officer, Bhaleka Suelall- Persaud who stated that the La Nina condition is expected to persist until the end of the first quarter of 2011.
She stated also that as of February 25, the highest rainfall recorded over a 24-hour period was 178 millimeters at St. Deny’s, Region Two while the second highest occurred at Leguan, Region Three at 146.4 millimetres.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Agriculture is intensifying its support to farmers who were affected by the recent heavy rainfall.
A special team of technical officers from the Ministry of Agriculture has been dispatched to affected agricultural areas to meet with farmers and other stakeholders to provide technical assistance and discuss possible additional interventions.
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud on February 26 lead a team of technical officers to interact with stakeholders in affected areas in Regions Two, Four and Five to continue ongoing interventions.
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Agriculture Minister inspects ongoing work at Golden Fleece Conservancy
Georgetown, GINA, February 26, 2011
To ensure that livelihoods are not affected as a result of the extreme rainfall, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud today inspected works being undertaken at the Golden Fleece Conservancy, Region Two, in light of the breach that was experienced on Monday last.
Minister Persaud and a team of Officials from the Agriculture Ministry inclusive of Chief Executive Officer, National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth; Deputy General Manager, Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Madal Ramraj and Regional Chairman Ali Baksh inspected works being undertaken by Government, which are expected to be completed today.
The NDIA has embarked on emergency drainage works to remedy the situation.
“Luckily through swift intervention we were able to stabilize that breach and based on the investments that we have been doing over time on the Essequibo Coast we would be able to see a couple of acres being lost as a result of the heavy rainfall which resulted in the breach,” Minister Persaud said.
Technical teams from the Ministry have been deployed across the country to ensure that farmers’ livelihoods are not entirely lost as a result of the flood, which saw the area accumulating over three inches of water over a 24- hour period, compared to the two inches the country’s drainage system is built to withstand.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and Chief Executive Officer, National Drainage and Irrigation Authority Lionel Wordsworth inspect remedial work at Golden Fleece Conservancy Essequibo, Region Two
Minister Persaud added that during the additional investments by Government, justification is being seen compared to the damage experienced during the 2005 floods, which saw many losing their livelihoods.
This is being done through the Indian Line of Credit which will see pumps which were de-commissioned during the 1980s being restored.
“It shows the lack of foresight during the period, pumps were stripped and there were no rehabilitation and so we have to go through a period of restoring as well as putting in additional systems,” he said.
An additional pump will also be installed at La Belle Alliance according to the Agriculture Minister.
Several interventions are being put in place to ensure that the country’s drainage systems remain functional during the current La Nina season where rainfall is expected to be above normal.
These include the cleaning and desilting of canals; installation of mobile pumps and excavation of drainage structures to ensure that flooding is reduced. Officers from the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDU), and the extension arm of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NARI), were also deployed to affected regions to assist in this regard
Minister Persaud said that enhanced emphasis is being placed on restoring normalcy. Three communities have embarked on interventions to the left bank of the conservancy which was breached.
“Efforts are also being made to ensure that small farmers are also taken care of, in terms of planting materials and livestock interventions. But it is also to move swiftly into normalization and thus far we have seem minimal impact on rice and cash crop, not only for the Essequibo coast, reduced,” Minister Persaud said.
Additional interventions are also being sought by the Agriculture Ministry to ensure that remedial works continue with the aim of preventing flooding in the future, despite it being caused by the lackluster approach of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), or the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).
Due to above normal rainfall, the left side of the conservancy door was breached and the NDIA has embarked on the construction of an emergency dam to ensure that drainage returns to normal.
The remedial work which commenced on February .
When the Government Information Agency (GINA), visited the site today, it was noticed that 95 percent of the work has been completed by the contractor using equipment from the NDIA. The project costs the Government approximately $10M and if contracted would have cost more.
The La Nina condition is expected to persist until the end of the first quarter of 2011.
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No serious damage in Region Two agri sector – Regional Chairman
Georgetown, GINA, February 26, 2011
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud and team of technical Officials from the Ministry during a visit to Essequibo, Region Two today also took time to check on the Lima Sluice and the existing pump station.
Thus far, the pump has been functioning as normal and has been assisting in reducing the level of water on the land.
Regional Chairman Ali Baksh during an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), said that despite the build-up of water as a result of the high intensity rainfall, the region has not recorded extreme losses.
“This Region, we have not had serious damage thus far in the agriculture sector. Generally we have tried our best but if we have some more input in terms of machinery, we will be able to tackle the challenges, that may confront us from time to time,” Baksh said.
With regards to the works that are ongoing to the Golden Fleece Conservancy, he said that the dam which was built since the 1960s catered for 18,000 acres of agriculture lands however; with the 32.5 acres of land under cultivation it would be impossible for the conservancy to withstand the amount of pressure.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and Chief Executive Officer, National Drainage and Irrigation Authority Lionel Wordsworth inspect pace of water receding off the land at Lime Sluice, Essequibo, Region Two
“We have to also see other assistance to ensure that we have developments to assist the conservancy dam,” the Regional Chairman said.
Thus far, rainfall has surpassed the average 120 millilitres for February with a record 145 millilitres and as such, the issue of dam maintenance should be emphasized in order to prevent flooding as this will negatively impact the livelihoods of residents.
As Guyana continues to experience the impact of the La Nina weather condition, the Ministry of Agriculture has been implementing measures to safeguard against flooding, as efforts intensify to ensure that livelihoods are not affected.
“The country’s drainage system is built to withstand 1.5 inches of rainfall within a 24-hour period, compared to three inches experienced in some areas. The East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC), Boerasirie conservancy and conservancies in Region Two have also recorded a rapid rise in the water levels but thus far we have been able to manage the situation,” he said.
The Regional Chairman pointed out that with the break in weather; water at all affected areas in Regions Two has been receding while some farming and residential areas in Onderneeming and Annandale remain under water.
In this regard, drainage pumps have been deployed at strategic locations while several pieces of dredging equipment have been deployed to clear outfall channels in Region Three.
According to reports from the hydromet office, the highest rainfall recorded over the last 24-hour period was 178 millimeters at St. Deny’s, Region Two while the second highest occurred at Leguan, Region Three at 146.4 millimetres.
The La Nina condition is expected to persist until the end of the first quarter of 2011.
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