Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud assured West Bank Berbice (Region Five) residents and farmers last Wednesday that government will assist them as they recover from the recent flood caused by torrential rains. During the meeting, residents of Blairmont and Ithaca asked for assistance to construct aquaculture ponds and for the services of a hymac to clear the canals. They also spoke about loss of cattle due to salt water intrusion; NIS medical for injured GuySuCo employees, and the electricity supply to the communities.
Minister Robert Persaud interacting with farmers and residents of Ithaca/Blairmont Number Four Settlement, West Bank Berbice, during a meeting to discuss issues affecting their livelihood
At Numbers Eight, 29 and 30 Villages, topics discussed included the provision of additional agricultural extension officers to assist cash crop farmers; larceny; cattle rustling; bulldozers to repair dams; construction of additional outfall channels; trained sluice attendants; vandalism of equipment at the pump station in those areas, and installation of street lights.
In addressing the issues, Minister Persaud pointed out that the recent flooding some residents were made to endure was as a result of extreme rainfall over a six-day period, which amounted to rainfall for an entire month.
During the six days of rainfall, the Hydromet Office recorded rainfall that surpassed the average 120 millimetres for February with a record 145 millimetres.
He added that special emphasis will be given to the Blairmont/Ithaca area, since it is very vulnerable to flooding.
“Interventions will not only be looked at to manage flooding during the above normal rainfall period, but rather than taking the incremental approach, which is implementing interventions as problems arise, we will have to be much more strategic,” he said.
Persaud said that while areas prone to flooding will continue to be vulnerable due to climate change and the country’s topography of being below sea level, efforts are moving apace to ensure that the areas are much more resilient. In this regard, additional outlets will be created to complement the existing drainage systems.
However, he stated that the issue still remains a challenging one, since the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority’s financial capability remains limited.
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud interacted with Region Five residents of Numbers 29 and 30 Villages, West Coast Berbice, during a visit to address the La Nina intervention.
“In some areas, additional lands are being brought under cultivation, and our resources are not sufficient for us to adequately drain these areas properly. We are also looking at ways in which we can acquire and better use resources with the help of the different communities,” he said.
An excavator will shortly be re-deployed to the Ithaca area to complete excavation work that was halted because of the excessive rainfall. This will also aid in government’s efforts to integrate GuySuCo’s drainage and water management with the communities, to better manage the water system.
Through a line of credit with the government of India, the Guyanese authorities are in the process of procuring a number of pumps. These will be deployed to critical areas to address drainage and irrigation needs. The MMA/ADA has also completed a sideline canal separating Numbers Eight and Nine villages. The scope of work also includes the installation of three lengths of four- foot tubes under the road surface.
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