Latest update February 4th, 2025 9:06 AM
Ann’s Grove residents blame negligence for flooding
“One whole year we had dry weather and look what’s happening now. This place should have been far more equipped to take the water off the land. Now the rain just start to fall, what is going to happen to the inhabitants of bee hive to Doch Four?”
That was the angry reaction of Wilbert Simon of the New Ann’s Grove Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, after flood waters resulting from the recent showers have left the community inundated.
Frantic efforts are now being made to get the green field sluice open to drain the excessive water from the land.
Ever since the recent rains, a significant section of the New Ann’s Grove Housing Scheme has been under water resulting in severe hardship for the residents there.
According to Simon, this is all because the sluice at Greenfield which is supposed to drain the water from the land is inoperable.
In fact, Simon said that it was only after he contacted officials from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority that efforts are now being made to rectify the problem.
Yesterday, excavators mounted on a pontoon were operating to clear the outfall channel to facilitate the opening of the sluice doors.
In the interim, the authorities are using a pump to drain the water but according to Simon, this is grossly inadequate.
“They had all the time in the world to do this and it is only now being done.”
But according to another resident it will not be until after a few days that the sluice door will be able to open and should there be more rain, the situation will definitely get worse.
Government had announced that they had spent in excess of $200M to remedy drainage and irrigation structures.
However, the residents of Ann’s Grove are questioning whether the money was well spent.
Simon, who has been living in the community for the past three years, explained that he has not been able to park his vehicle in or near his yard since he has been living there.
Residents have had to erect what can be described as a winding bridge to get to and from their homes.
This Simon said becomes treacherous especially at nights.
“My wife fall off the bridge and into the water on several occasions, all because of this situation,” he lamented.
Other residents have also voiced their concerns about the situation.
They were observed wading through knee deep water to get to and from their yard.
According to Simon it is only when elections are near that the administration sees it fit to rectify infrastructure in some communities.
He said that just prior to the last general elections, President Bharrat Jagdeo visited the area and facilitated the construction of a road for a section of the new housing community.
“Champion of the earth? Let the champion of the earth come and see what is happening to us,” a frustrated Simon told this newspaper.
He said that he hopes that the president, who is a former classmate of his, revisit the community and see what his officers have allowed to happen to the residents.
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