Flood relief for Reg 9; 59 residents evacuated

Fifty-nine persons have been evacuated from their homes and placed into shelters as flooding persists in Region Nine.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has set up temporary shelters at Culvert City Primary School, Tabatinga Community Centre Ground and the Amerindian Hostel in Lethem.

The CDC has also dispatched relief supplies to the residents including water purification tablets, collapsible bottles, detergents and cleaning supplies, beddings and blankets, among other materials.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon visited the Region on Friday where he met with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and other officials.

According to a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency, Harmon committed to having a bond constructed by the CDC in the region to cater to this annual occurrence.

“A few years ago, we identified some land here to build a bond for the CDC and we will have to fast-track that activity because it is not feasible to be moving heavy stuff from Georgetown or wherever it comes from, into Lethem during the flood,” he was quoted as saying.

As 31 villages have been cut off from the rest of the population, according to the Ministry of the Presidency, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has begun providing support through a boat shuttle service for residents from 06:00 hours to 18:00 hours every day.

According to the Ministry, the Mnister pointed out that effort must be made to reach every resident who has been affected by the flood, which resulted from the overtopping of several rivers, particularly the Takutu River, due to heavy rainfall in the region and over in neighbouring Brazil.

The State Minister said that the current weather patterns in the region and in Brazil will see the water rising and receding at frequent intervals, but with a coordinated approach, some semblance of order can exist.

Up to Wednesday, the water level increased by approximately 5ft between 5 am to 11 am.

The Minister expressed satisfaction with the shelters being provided.

“Two years ago, when we had this situation, and this year I am happy to see that there is a greater level of coordination of the operations here and I am very pleased about that.  So I am asking that you work together with the region,” he said, according to the statement.

Regional Chairman, Mr. Brian Allicock, told the Ministry that the water has begun to recede, although it remains high in some areas.  The region, he noted, is continuously monitoring the communities in the South Rupununi.

“What is happening is that it is going and coming.  In the forecast from Brazil, there is rain for the next couple of days and we have a back-up of the waters in the rivers over there into the Takutu.  Currently, we cannot access Karasabai by road and even when you go by boat, you have to wade through waist-high water to get into the village so they are totally cut off,” Mr. Allicock explained.

The CDC continues to monitor the situation in the region and will provide support as it becomes necessary.