PNCR accuses Govt. of failing to acknowledge gravity of situation

Dec 23, 2008 News

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Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Robert Corbin, as a matter of urgent national importance, through a motion, called on the Agriculture Minister and relevant stakeholders to reactivate the Civil Defence Commission and immediately commence the delivery of tanks of water to the flood-affected victims in the various villages along the East Coast, among other places.

Corbin also reiterated his party’s call for compensation of victims of the floods which are, “already reminiscent of 2005,” adding that the Government was failing to fully accept the gravity of the situation.

According to Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, he was quite aware of some amount of relief measure in future, adding that the administration was doing everything within its capacity to alleviate the situation. He further added that the current rainfall being experienced is comparable to 2005.

The minister noted recent statements emanating from some sections of society, and he called them the few who mischievously contend that the Government has learned nothing from the 2005 floods, and they were saying that Government’s activities in preparation for the rains were frantic, last-minute, and uncoordinated.

According to Persaud, “If peddling such untruths were not so dangerous at this fragile time, it would be laughably ludicrous.”

Corbin failed to have the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, allow a projector to be set up in the House, thereby allowing Corbin to show what he called flood-hit areas, such as Dazzell Housing Scheme on the East Coast of Demerara, Bee Hive and Lusignan.

The minister, however, pointed out that a lot of the accumulation of water on the lands was a direct result of neglect and vandalism.

He pointed specifically to the Dazzell Housing Scheme, telling the National Assembly that the Neighbourhood Democratic Council responsible for the vicinity had sold the topsoil on the dam, so that when the water in the canals rose, the canals easily overtopped.

He added that the National Drainage & Irrigation Authority has since had to rebuild the dam. Persaud also responded to an assertion by Corbin that the Hope Inlet was only recently desilted by saying that the siltation process occurred at a very rapid pace at the mouth of the inlet, and that desiltation would commence close to the rainy season.

He said that when desiltation was completed on one inlet, the machinery would move on to others and then return to the one that was first desilted. He noted that the most recent desiltation process at the Hope Inlet was the second in two weeks.

FLOODING STILL A POSSIBILITY
During a statement to the House, Persaud indicated that, once again, at the end of 2008, the country was faced with rainfall of a magnitude and intensity comparable to 2005; and whilst the 2005 floods underscored the need for the massive infrastructural works that Government had undertaken, contributing to significantly reduced risks, “We are still in a vulnerable position with respect to flooding along some low-lying communities on the coast, especially in Region Four.”

He reported to the National Assembly that a comparison of the total rainfall accumulated for December 2008 and December 2005 demonstrates that, at several locations on the coast, the December 2008 recorded rainfall was higher.

“It is as a result of the diligent and sustained efforts that the Government has made in drainage and irrigation since 2005 that we have not witnessed as widespread flooding as experienced during 2005.”

The minister also pointed out that, according to the Hydrometeorological Service, the country could expect additional high intensity rain days, during which rainfall amounts will be between 50mm and 150mm (2ins. to 6 ins.) in 24 hours.

“To put matters into perspective, it must be noted that, between December 1 and 18 this year, in excess of 425 mm rainfall was received at widely dispersed locations such as Better Hope, Supenaam, Capoey, Wales, Georgetown, Ogle, Good Hope, Enmore and Bee Hive.”

President Bharrat Jagdeo also recently lent his voice to the current rainfall situation. He noted that the projected rainfall is way beyond the current drainage capacity.

According to the President, in the coming days, rain should fall at about 4.5 inches to about five inches, mainly at nights, but the drainage infrastructure could only facilitate two inches of rainfall in a given 24-hour period.

Were the rain to be sustained as predicted, there will be accumulation of water, as is the case in certain sections of the country.

The Head of State noted that this was why the administration currently has in excess of 50 pumps around the country to aid drainage.

The drainage infrastructure in Guyana utilises gravity flow, and were the water to be heavily accumulated on the land and there were to be a high tide, then the gravity flow system could not be utilised.

Jagdeo described the current situation as, “Horrific conditions occasioned by the flooding that the (affected Guyanese) are experiencing.” He acknowledged that certain sections of the country were experiencing “aspects” of flooding.

He also said that Guyanese understood that, “We live below sea level, and if you have excessive rainfall, it will accumulate…There is nothing that could be done for us to not have accumulation.”

The President also pointed out that there has been some neglect of the drainage system, as well as the excessive littering that complicates the problem. The phenomenon of accumulation of water is not new.

According to the Head of State, this year much more money has been expended on drainage than in the past. “And from that spending, we have got much more in terms of work.” He said that this was because now, “We have our own capacity…we are doing the same work for half the price using our own equipment.” In the past, the dredging works would have had to be contracted out.

He added also that another benefit of having one’s own capacity was the mobility, in that the equipment could be easily moved around.

The President did note, however, that were the situation to become worse, he would release emergency funds. “Even now, reviewing the budget, we may be able to allocate some more money for 2009.”

Almost $2B has been spent on drainage and irrigation works countrywide as reports of high indication of an active rainy season continue to unfold.

Meteorological reports recently stated that this rainy season can experience at least four to five inches of rainfall within any given day, with a 50 to 60 percent probability of above-normal downpours.

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