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Heavy Christmas rains anticipated

Nov 27, 2010 News

Authorities are warning that heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, likely to be more than 70 per cent above normal, is expected for the Christmas season with agencies already deployed in the various regions to tackle works.
At a press briefing to highlight some of the challenges facing the government, Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, on Thursday, called on citizens and regional bodies to be on the alert with the predictions of the above normal rains.
During the past weeks, there were constant heavy showers across the land but no major damage to crops, as yet.
Already, workers have released waters from East Demerara Water Conservancy in anticipation of the rains,
At a recent press briefing were Chairman of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA)  Walter Willis; Chief Executive Officer Lionel Wordsworth; Chief Hydromet Officer, Bhaleka Suelall-Persaud; and the Ministry’s engineer, Fred Flatts.
Some 3,000 personnel have been deployed to the regions. There is also ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to assess possible needs for the hinterland area.
Several excavators have been sent to strategic sites, also.
Minister Persaud cautioned that while Government resources have been placed on full deployment, there will likely be cases of flash-flooding, a scenario that could hardly be controlled.
The Ministry has cancelled its planned social events for December as workers standby for what is promising to be a hectic few weeks of rains.
The officials yesterday said that on many days there will be rain in excess of five inches. Established infrastructure could only take off about two inches in some places.
The Minister also called on residents and the regional and NDC bodies to pay extra attention to infrastructure and report on the failings.
The emergency disaster response service and the Civil Defence Commission, have been put on alert.
Persaud urged for residents to also check on workers, including koker operators, to ensure that they function.
All of the NDIA 23 mobile pumps and two pontoon dredges will be in operation to boost the 113 stationary pumps.
Across the country, several sluices, canals and embankments have been repaired and strengthened to meet the expected heavy rainfall. Wordsworth said that garbage, squatting and vandalism continue to hamper works.
Involved in the works also are MMA-ADA, regional authorities, GuySuCo and the farmers’ group.
According to Willis, while the Georgetown area has traditionally fallen under the Mayor and City Councillors, NDIA and the government still chipped to rehabilitate the Liliendaal pumps, install two new pumps at Kitty and excavate the outfalls to the Demerara River.
According to the officials yesterday, they will be sending out public messages on the television and on mobile phones on the situation as it develops.

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