Albouystown residents furious over flood situation

Pandemonium broke out last evening among residents of Albouystown, Georgetown when their homes became inundated with water owing to a breakage of the Koker at Sussex Street, Georgetown.

The flooding in the Albouystown community comes weeks after a similar situation occurred in Providence on the East Bank of Demerara, which saw residents experiencing major losses.

The Albouystown residents, during their boisterous protest, blamed the Public Works Ministry for the mishap. They told Guyana Times International that they are at their wits end at the level of inattention the community is receiving.

Coupled with the rising water in their homes, the residents who had gathered at the site were also deeply concerned over another possible crisis since a high tide was predicted sometime later in the evening.

When GTI arrived at the scene, an engineer from the Mayor and City Council was already at work.

The once gushing water was contained with assistance lent by members of the Guyana Fire service.

Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase Green who was also at the scene, told this publication that she became aware of the situation earlier in the afternoon. According to her, it is alleged by residents that someone might have tampered with the koker’s lock and opened the door.

However, while that could not be proven, she was concerned about the safety of affected residents in the community. “There is still some amount of water gushing in so they are going to activate the pump to ensure that that water that is flooding in the Albouystown area would be pumped out”, Chase Green told this newspaper, noting that the situation was unfortunate.

The koker attendant was not present at the time of the incident. In fact, according to Chase Green, based on what was told to her, the pump attendant is required to service several sluices. She said maybe in his absence, someone may have tampered with the koker.

Residents also complained about the presence of oil in the water. “What we were told is that someone might have emptied some oil from a barrel in the water, we don’t know”.

Chase Green observed that the revetment which was built to preserve the existing uses of the shoreline as a defence against erosion was broken in. This, she explained, has made little space available for the holding of water.

“Maybe what the Ministry of Works could do is build a proper revetment with concrete and bring it to the height of the entrance of the koker which will give you a better capacity to hold the water in these eventualities”.

Residents in their frustration criticised the operation of the sluice, noting that the work being carried out by those responsible is ineffective.

“Instead of them listening to people who know what is to be done, they are not listening to nobody”, one obviously upset resident told GTI. The man explained that the “good” pump was removed earlier in the day and was replaced with another that was worn out.

Another resident, Dexter Haughton told reporters on scene that since February the Public Works Ministry had installed the new pump there. He said while the pump works efficiently form time to time, the buildup of garbage would get into the foot valve of the equipment, causing it to choke.

The pump, he explained, operates mainly when there is intense rainfall. He explained that while he is working to assist the residents of Albouystown with his skill, he is not being given any attention.

“I did what is called a video footage of the different canals in the city. Every time I try to meet with the hierarchies, no one wants to see with me because I am an ordinary person. I tried to see the Minister of Local Government but nothing,” the distraught resident opined.

Residents say the Sussex Street koker was allowed to deteriorate to its current state and leaves much to be desired.

“Imagine we used to play in this as a boy child”, one resident said. “This is how it is though”.

In early October, officials from the Public Works Ministry were forced to replace a new sluice door on the koker which services the Peters Hall and Providence neigbourhood on the East Bank of Demerara.

The koker door reportedly caved under the pressure of the rising tide. Residents experienced severe losses during after that incident.