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NDIA seeks police help to protect infrastructure

Jan 06, 2009 News

The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority is seeking the assistance of the Guyana Police Force to protect drainage infrastructure along the East Coast of Demerara.

In a letter sent to Commander of the Cove and John Police Station, Balram Persaud, it was stated that there have been several instances, at different locations along the East Coast, when unknown persons have been tampering with the drainage infrastructure.

This, the NDIA stated in its letter, is causing disturbance and preventing the organisation from effectively controlling the water levels on the East Coast.

Given the present weather patterns, tampering with these structures can cause severe flooding and tremendous hardships to the residents along the East Coast, the letter added.

As such, the NDIA is requesting that officers in the division be more vigilant in areas where the drainage infrastructures are located.

Speaking with Kaieteur News yesterday, Commander Persaud said that while ranks are not stationed at any of the drainage structures, there have been increased patrols in the areas.

He said that ranks have been checking the structures along with pump attendants.

“We are helping in whatever way we can,” the commander said.

There have been several reports of vandalism at drainage structures along the East Coast of Demerara and in other areas across the country.

During visits to agricultural communities during the past year, farmers often complained about sabotage of dams and other drainage structures that result in the agricultural areas being affected by high water from the backlands, which is caused by excessive rainfall.

In one instance, the police were chasing after a man with part of a koker door on his head at 05:00 hrs in Berbice.

Almost $2B have been spent on National Drainage and Irrigation works countrywide as reports of high indication of an active rainy season continue to unfold.

Recent meteorological reports have stated that this rainy season will dump at least four to five inches of rainfall on any given day. There is also a 50 to 60 percent probability of above-normal downpours.

Speaking with the media recently, Lionel Wordsworth, Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, said that a fleet of 23 portable pumps have been installed countrywide in preparation for the rainy season. These have been deployed to strategic locations.

Six of these have been installed in Region Two, and one has been installed in Region Three.

In Region Four, there are 39 fixed pumps, but an additional 11 have been deployed around the city and in the East Coast of Demerara to support the existing structures.

Two additional pumps, he said, will complement the three fixed pumps in Region Five.

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