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Bare Roots flooded for past five weeks
Residents of Bare Roots, an East Coast Demerara village, have been flooded since February 15. The village has a record of being very susceptible to flooding.
Many school children have been staying away from school while livestock farmers have lost thousands of dollars.
One of the residents, Ms. Sheron Joseph, said that the main reason the village floods every time there is a drizzle, is because of the poor drainage that exists in the community.
Mr. Simon in his long boots demonstrating the height of the water in Ms. Joseph’s yard.
She stated that all her life she has been living in Bare Roots and this has always been the case. She added that despite many complaints and requests for the creation of a proper drainage system in the community, there has been no move towards this.
Ms. Joseph recalled the period before the January 2005 floods when the community was pleading with the government for proper drainage and roads. Nothing was done.
She said that she had become so frustrated that she had even voiced her concern on CNS 6 Voice of the People. Two weeks later some rather sub standard roads were constructed.
She said that she was grateful for the roads but nothing has been done to improve the poor drainage system of the village.
Ms. Jacqueline Lewis, who is Joseph’s neighbour and also a livestock farmer said that she has lost over $71,000 in piglets that were killed due to the harsh conditions.
Ms. Lewis said that if she isn’t careful, she and her young ones might get infected with a water borne disease. She spoke of ring worms in the water.
Kaieteur News observed many ring worm colonies in most of the residents’ yards. Kaieteur News also observed leeches in the water and there was a fetid smell.
Water has intruded almost every bottom flat house in the flooded area; Ms. Joseph and shop keeper Aniska Holder’s home are two.
Ms. Holder’s only income comes from sales from her small shop and it has been over a month now since she has not been able to conduct business. And with inflating prices for goods and services, things aren’t any good for her.
Leonard Simon and his wife, Debbie, who are in the poultry business, claim losses of some $60,000. The couple stated that almost every day they have to throw away dead birds.
Kaieteur News even observed a dead duck in a flooded pen and Mr. Simon explained that the animal died due to cramp from being in the water for long.
The Simons expressed concern for the school children who haven’t been able to get to school because of the persistent flood.
Ms. Joseph shared with Kaieteur News that her granddaughter who will be writing the SSEE examinations in April, braves the elements and wades through the infected water every day.
Ms. Joseph said that she was informed that the water was being pumped out but she doubted this because the water wasn’t moving.
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