Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
Rains hit Essequibo vendors, farmers hard
Persistent heavy rainfall over the weekend, along the Essequibo Coast, was responsible for flooding in several locations, including the Anna Regina Municipal market, which continues to be flooded, more often, whenever the rain falls.
According to both vendors and residents in the Anna Regina, Lima and Charity, they have complained of being severely affected since Thursday, 18, last.
Vendor, Hakeem Khan, who has been operating at the Anna Regina municipal, for over the last 30 years, complained of being confronted with the aggravated problem for the last nine years.
The irate vendor firmly asserted that the two major issues that further compound the whole issue of being constantly affected by flooding in the Anna Regina market and its neighbouring environs, have to do with a defected koker at Anna Regina and the trench, which runs in close proximity with the market.
Khan vented for years now that the koker has been defected and the trench has not been cleaned for a long period.
“Two years ago I placed a call to the hotline for flooding in Georgetown and ever since that call no works have been executed in the trench, despite the region has in excess of 3000 enhancement workers.”
Another irate vendor, Mark Mc Lean, who was seen bailing water from his stalls, this morning, said excessive overflowing of water could be avoided, especially in the market area, if the council would pay more attention to the koker and clearing of the trench.
Over the years, Mc Lean said, a collective group of vendors approached the council, in an effort to line the susceptible areas in the market with sand bags and was denied that permission.
Mc Lean furthered stressed that another commitment by the vendors was to have the entrance aback of the market concreted, but that offer too was denied by the council. Mc Lean said the water on Thursday rose almost three inches and with the continuous rainfall it will rise even further.
Mayor, Sammy Rampersaud, blamed the problem on the negligence of the vendors. He said that vendors continue to throw garbage in the trench.
Another point raised by the mayor was the issue of the higher land that residents live on compared to the level of the market.
“The council is presently monitoring the situation.”
Over at Lima, farmers have also complained of a defected koker, which continues to be non-functional.
According to one farmer, Persaud, two acres of his rice field was destroyed by the uncontrolled salt water.
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