Battle
on to drain flood waters
-- more pumps needed
More pumps were yesterday deployed to
drain flood waters still several feet
deep in many villages along the East
Coast Demerara as officials hoped for a
letup in the heaviest rains in more than
a century.
It was sunny for most of yesterday but
much of the East Coast Demerara and
other parts of the coast remained
blanketed with water and the government
widened efforts to get relief supplies
to flood-hit victims.
On a tour of East Coast Demerara
villages where he was flocked by
residents, President Bharrat Jagdeo said
there was a pressing need for more
pumps.
He said he advised Trinidad and Tobago
Prime Minister Patrick Manning, who
telephoned him yesterday about the
country’’s needs, that pumps were a
priority, the Government Information
Agency (GINA) reported.
The Omai Gold Mining Limited has
deployed a large submersible pump from
its mine site in the Essequibo to
Liliendaal to help the massive drain-off
operation.
Pumps have also been deployed on the
East Coast from Berbice, including the
Aroaima bauxite mines.
Acting Agriculture Minister Satyadeow
Sawh yesterday reported that several
pumps have been acquired from rice
farmers at Mahaica and Mahaicony.
Chief Executive Officer of the National
Drainage and Irrigation Board Ravi
Narine told GINA that additional pumps
were being installed at Liliendaal,
Better Hope, Enterprise and Kitty.
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics,
Anthony Xavier told the agency that the
water level in the Mahaica area has
receded tremendously while there has
been marginal reduction in the level in
some areas on the East Coast Demerara.
He said there was overtopping at the
Boerasirie Conservancy on the West Bank
Demerara but noted that there was not
much flooding there now that the weather
has improved.
The United States will be making two
pumps available to be installed on the
East Coast Demerara, GINA said.
More boats are being used to get
supplies to people in backlands cut off
from distribution points.
GINA said Minister in the Ministry of
Labour and Human Services, Bibi Shadick
and some private individuals were
spearheading this aspect of the food
delivery programme which has so far been
done by a fleet of trucks.
Ms. Shadick told the agency that
supplies from the government, businesses
and other individual donors were being
packaged at her office and made
available in hampers.
She said some people cannot come out of
their homes to receive supplies and
boats were made available to reach these
locations.
Almost $10M in food supplies is being
packaged in hampers by several
businessmen and volunteers at the
rent-a-tent Ray Rahaman’’s Compound,
GINA said.
Coordinator of the packaging centre, Mr.
Karan Singh told the agency stocks are
supplied by several donors with the
largest contributions coming from the
government.
He explained that the centre was merely
involved in packaging and not
distributing since distribution is
authorised by the President.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and
Commerce Manzoor Nadir yesterday
collected 500 mattresses for
distribution to persons who are
occupying shelters set up by the
government.
The 500 mattresses were purchased from
the Kissoon Group of Companies and sent
by truck to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF)
Camp Ayanganna headquarters, GINA said.
It said soldiers will be distributing
these to persons who are affected by the
flood and are staying at shelters.
The GDF is in charge of the shelters.
President in East Coast flood outreach
President Bharrat Jagdeo spent
several hours on the East Coast Demerara
yesterday visiting flood-stricken
communities. The Government Information
Agency (GINA) said the objective of the
President’’s return to the East Coast
was to identify in collaboration with
residents, affected persons who did not
receive relief or those who were
experiencing problems.
The Head of State stopped at various
communities along the way, listened to
residents’’ grievances and told them of
the government’’s efforts to bring
relief to them, the agency said.
The President, who turned 41 yesterday,
began the day with a briefing by the Met
Office, National Drainage and Irrigation
Board officials and officers working on
food, water and shelter, GINA said.
RISING
WATER: under water on the East Coast
yesterday. (Quacy Sampson photo)
After this, he met several groups of
residents outside State House. They were
there requesting assistance for their
communities, the agency said. The
President told his staff to make a list
of the communities and what is needed.
The communities included Industry, Mon
Repos (aback), Sand Reef Annandale,
Success, Le Ressouvenir and South
Georgetown, GINA reported.
He then took to the East Coast and his
first stop was at Better Hope. At that
meeting also were residents of
Sparendaam, Goedverwagting, Plaisance,
Better Hope and Vryheid’’s Lust.
According to GINA, the President also
interacted at various stops with
residents from Montrose, Success, Pigeon
Island, La Bonne Intention (LBI), BV GT&T
Exchange, Beterverwagting, Mon Repos,
Richardsville, Lusignan, Annandale,
Buxton, Friendship, Coldingen/Melanie
Main Road/Damishana/North Melanie;
Strathspey/Bladen Hall, Paradise,
Paradise Shelter, Logwood, Enmore,
Haslington North, Golden Grove, Nabaclis,
Cove & John, Victoria, Belfield and
Enmore (railway embankment).
HITCHING
A RIDE: sheep being transported on the
East Coast yesterday. (Quacy Sampson
photo)
At the BV GT&T Exchange, the President
took a look at the effort of employees
to save equipment using sandbags, GINA
said.
President Jagdeo explained that so far
the government has distributed some 72
truckloads of foodstuff to affected
communities.
However, he acknowledged that there were
gaps in the distribution, GINA said. The
agency said in some cases many of the
food items are stolen and stuff pilfered
from distribution trucks when they touch
down in some communities.
President Jagdeo said he understands the
plight of residents, but pleaded with
them to be patient as the government is
exhausting every suggestion and avenue
to help persons affected by the flood,
the agency reported.
It said the President also noted that he
has had complaints about persons who are
supposed to be distributing the
foodstuff taking the items to their
homes. He urged the distributors to
desist from this and show some level of
nationalism for residents who are
suffering, GINA said.
WATER
SUPPLY: residents collecting drinking
water on the East Coast yesterday. (Quacy
Sampson photo)
Residents also complained about
distributors, including members of the
Guyana Police Force ‘‘throwing’’ water
and bread into the water while
delivering to residents, the agency said.
At several communities, including Le
Ressouvenir, Beterverwagting and
Lusignan, groups were seen cooking at
the roadside for large numbers of people
and the President said he will let the
relief trucks replenish their depleted
supplies.
Water and Housing Minister Shaik Baksh,
who accompanied the President, said the
same will be done for the water tanks
placed in communities.
Many residents were also on the
roadsides awaiting the medical teams.
GINA said residents also requested boats
to reach parts of communities with high
water. The President noted that every
available boat was being used and the
government was trying to procure some
overseas. But the earliest possible date
of arrival is next week, the agency said.
Residents of Pigeon Island said prepared
food and dry rations have been delivered
regularly there but, according to GINA,
others did not share these sentiments
and a list was made of these communities
and what is needed.
The President told residents that
following his return to the city, trucks
will be dispatched with hampers, food
and water for them.
He also stopped at shelters along the
coast, including the Victoria Shelter.
The need for more rations was
highlighted and President Jagdeo said
these will be supplied.
GINA said the shelter is catering for
100 persons and it also needs mattresses.
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is
manning the 27 shelters, all of which
are not fully functional, the agency
said.
At the Paradise Church a shelter has
been established and officials are
cooking meals for distribution, as well
as coordinating the distribution of dry
rations.
GINA said the President explained that
the overtopping of the conservancies was
contributing immensely to water rising
on the land. He said that every
available pump in the country has been
deployed and an appeal is ongoing
locally and overseas for more pumps.
He added that Trinidad and Tobago Prime
Minister Patrick Manning called him
yesterday about what kind of assistance
Guyana needs. The President said he told
him pumps were needed.
Pumps have also been brought from
Berbice, the Aroaima bauxite mines and
Omai Gold Mining Limited to help drain
off the flood water.
GINA said Mr. Jagdeo advised that if
persons who have pumps want to help, the
government is willing to assist with the
fuel.
The final stop in the presidential
outreach yesterday was at Enmore, where
soldiers were taking in hot meals with
boats, the agency said.
