Latest update April 7th, 2025 6:08 AM
Den Amstel koker fails to close, floods low lying areas
A faulty koker which failed to close after a high tide which lashed the coast of Dem Amstel resulted in some low lying areas being flooded by sea water.
According to residents, about 2:00 hours yesterday, they were awakened by the rushing sound of water which quickly began to fill their homes.
Men working on trying to close the koker.
When Kaieteur News visited the community, many residents were seen cleaning their houses. When further checks were made at the Dem Amstel koker, workers were seen trying to close the koker door.
Claudette Lyken of Sidney Isaacs Avenue which is a few meters away from the Den Amstel koker, said that the water began rushing into the gutters and nearby drains before it rushed into the yards.
Lyken added that koker attendants were immediately summoned to the site.
“The water began to run down the stream. We here a little high and people start get up and we go over and help them bail water and put up them things up,” Lyken explained.
She added that workers at the pump worked in the dark tiredly trying to close the koker which was not going all the way down.
The woman said that the sea defence is undermined adding that the residents fear that it might one day break away and sweep the entire community in the sea.
Leroy James, of lot 35 Back Street, Den Amstel, said that his home, business and small scale farm came under flood resulting in a 20-pound turkey dying.
James added that around 3:00 am he went to the washroom and discovered that the entire house was standing in more than a foot of water. He said that he immediately began to release his goats and other animals that were not able to find higher grounds like the chickens.
“This thing could have been worse. We living in Guyana, we got to expect flood but we could prevent these things from happening; all (the koker) needs is regular maintenance”, James said.
James added that his worst fear is if the koker problems are not rectified and another catastrophe occurs; the situation could be worse than what has already happened.
The shaken man also noted that his kitchen garden was inundated with the sea water. He also fears for an epidemic due to the fact that many residents who were flooded used latrines.
A flooded room in one home at Den Amstel.
Another resident who was at a shop explained that in 2005 a pump which was installed in the area to pump out flood water was removed recently and sent to another location.
Elsa Stoby, of lot 19 New Housing Scheme, Den Amstel, said that her entire house was under water but luckily none of her appliances was damaged because they were on pallets.
Stoby added that the water “swirled” in and within two minutes it had already made its way into the home.
Although it had been suggested that the flooding was caused by the faulty koker door and the undermined sea defence, some residents were adamant on blaming the staffers responsible for opening and closing the koker doors for the inundation.
According to one resident, while he sought information about the flooding, he was informed by the Village Chairman George Nedd that “a piece of wood got stuck in the koker and it was unable to fully shutdown”.
The man added that when he prolonged the questioning, the Chairman disclosed that the staffers “woke up late” and therefore closed the koker late. According to his report, by the time the staffers arrived, the area was already submerged with sea water.
The concerned resident added that the situation had occurred last week but the flooding was not so severe.
This was just one of many residents who complained that the village chairman was aware of the constant flooding. He said that many community meetings were held to highlight the issues raised but to no avail.
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