Kwakwani floodwaters slowly recede

Jul 17, 2018 News

Aerial view of the Kwakwani flood-affected area

Residents and officials of the heavily inundated areas in Kwakwani, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Region 10, have reported that up to Sunday afternoon, the water level receded four inches.
For the past week, it was to its highest at nine feet. Residents are optimistic that the waters will continue receding, according to a government statement.
A multi-agency team led by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC)’s (ag) Director General, Lt. Col. Kester Craig visited the community on Friday, two days after a report was made on the flooding situation. Initial assessments were made of the areas affected; Waterfront, Lamp Island, Aroaima and Ginger Island.
These communities are located in proximity to the Upper Berbice River that borders Kwakwani. Approximately 300 households have been affected by the flooding.
Resident Cort Simeon of the Water Front area said that he constantly checks the water levels and realised that it had receded four inches. Simeon, along with many other residents and community officials, commended the efforts of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) who promptly responded to the call for assistance.
On Sunday morning, the residents received supplies of cleaning agents and utensils as well as medical supplies.
Another resident, Mavis Lewis, said that the items distributed to the residents are what they need right now, given the intensity of the flood and the environmental health issues that the residents are exposed to. “I think all the residents are glad to get the items, I think the CDC’s response was very good.
They were prompt and we appreciate that very much,” Lewis told the Department of Public Information (DPI).
Regional Vice Chairman of Region 10 Elroy Adolph, who is also a resident of Kwakwani, said that the residents have expressed their appreciation for the CDC’s effort to promptly respond to their call for help. “I am pleased, they were very prompt.
I am very pleased that they have come on board to assess the situation and to also provide help, just two days after.”
Adolph highlighted one of the challenges facing the residents in the present situation is transportation.
He said high fees are being called, especially from canoe operators plying the flooded routes, to transport the residents who live on the outskirts of Kwakwani, to the central location, for shopping and other business-related purposes.
The Regional Vice Chairman is calling on the relevant officials to consider raising the level of the main access road so that when the flooding occurs in the future, transportation would not be affected.

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