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…residents blame sluice operator for reacting late
Heavy rains early Saturday morning has left several East Berbice communities inundated and millions in losses.
Residents between the villages of #52 and # 60 in East Berbice Corentyne are bemoaning the lack of proper drainage and the faulty #52 canal sluice, which they said led to the flooding that damaged livestock and properties. Residents speaking with the Village Voice related that the prolonged rainy season has caused the #52 canal, which is the main drainage canal to overflow its banks. This however is supposed to be a non-issue since with the proper operation of the sluice the water is usually let out quickly via the two door sluice. The operator however reportedly did not open the doors as scheduled and the heavy downpour caused the internal drains to overtop thereby flooding the communities.
Flood waters, knee-deep high, filled yards and lower flats of houses that damaged appliances and other items. “The koker get two doors them nah open it up, plus the front of it silt up. They supposed to clean it since before the rainy season now the place flood and they only open one door. All me goods them damage… Me can’t use me kitchen, water deh till by me knee,” Chandrdai Sukrah told the media Saturday morning.
Most residents suffered similar losses as Sukrah and are awaiting the water to recede to start the cleanup process and fully assess the damage caused by the floods. However, for the Latifs, the losses were in the millions as their commercial poultry pens were flooded.
Rasheed and Bibi Shaheeda Latif have been operating a poultry business for the past 12 years after re-migrating to Guyana from Canada. They have a farm aback #57 Village that has the capacity to rear approximately 10,000 chickens in different stages but the flood for a second time has caused them to question their investment and the capabilities of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in providing an environment to foster commercial activities .
According to Rasheed they have complained ad nauseam to the NDC about poor drainage in the area where their farm is located but it has fallen on deaf ears. He said since there are few residential buildings in the area it would appear that the NDC does not view the situation as a priority. The couple told the media the present flood has caused them to lose over $4M as three of their five chicken pens were filled with more than two feet of water drowning thousands of chickens in the process.
The family managed to transport a few hundred chickens of various sizes to a pen in front of the farm that they managed to save. Mrs. Latif pointed to the pen that housed 1500 baby chicks with tears streaming down her cheeks: “All dead,” she managed to say. The chicks were placed into the pen only a few days before. Next to the pen another pen housed 2100 chickens about five weeks old, none survived. Five hundred chickens that were to be sold to wholesalers also perished as did a few hundred more from another pen. The family is now seeking assistance to recuperate their losses and continue their business.
