Agri Minister provides relief for flood-plagued residents 

An excavator which was sent to the area on Saturday can be seen dredging an outfall channel in Berbice 

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has promptly addressed a recurring issue with the effects from heavy rainfall that has been plaguing residents within the #52-74 area in Berbice over the years, and which up to two days ago caused severe damage, resulting in residents suffering losses to both poultry and cash crops.

Following a sudden heavy downpour on Friday night, several villages within the area were under water on Saturday. This was caused by poor drainage, an issue that many residents said they have made complaints about on numerous occasions to the local NDC office and never received any feedback.

After learning about the residents’ concerns and the difficulties they have encountered due to the recent flooding, Mustapha visited all the affected areas yesterday with a team including officials from the Ministry of Local Government, Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), and National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), to assess the issue.

The Minister has since instructed engineers to have four excavators sent out to begin cleaning and unclogging drains and canals which, according to residents, have not been properly cleaned for a while now.

“Two excavators were sent out yesterday (Saturday) afternoon, another excavator was sent out this (Sunday) morning and the fourth will be dispatched tomorrow (today, Monday) to ensure residents do not face such difficulties again when the rain falls,” he disclosed.

Minister Mustapha said clear instructions and guidelines were given to engineers to resolve the drainage issues and the work is currently ongoing.

Due to the flood, a poultry farmer and her husband, Bebe Shaheeda Latif and Rasheed Latif who own a chicken farm at #57 village lost over four million dollars in poultry, after roughly about 4,000 chickens died from flood waters.

Latif said over the 12 years they have been running their business in that area, they have always complained and asked for proper drainage, as their farms would often flood once it rains, but this recent experience is one that has left them completely saddened.

Ms. Simon leading the team to where she plants her produce

Meanwhile, cash crop farmers Nella Jaundoo and Shebeke Simpson of #53 village suffered over $500,000 in losses of crops that they were expecting to reap within the coming week. Jaundoo said she lost crops such as tomatoes, celery and boulanger. She also lost several chickens.

“All the hens that were setting died. I wake up and see the chickens dead and floating in the pen and all the eggs in the water.”

Simpson told this publication her losses amounted close to $100,000. The woman said she depends on her crops to survive, and is now hoping for the best, and willing to accept any little assistance to start again.

According to the farmers at #53 village, a canal which is located next to their farm has been blocked and cannot drain the water to the outfall. As a result, when it rains heavily, the entire area and farmlands are severely affected by flood waters.

Mustapha, during an interview said he had already sent out officials from the Guyana Livestock Development Authority and National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, who will provide him with a detailed report after assessing the farms and area, and also do follow-ups to see possible ways in which the Ministry can assist those farmers.

He also noted that the NDIA, NDC and RDC will form a committee to ensure the works are being done accordingly, machine operators are performing their duties as directed, and that there is a collaborative effort between communities in ensuring people are taken care of, and matters are addressed and resolved

A canal in No.53 village which needs urgent attention

Mustapha stated that his main priority is to visit all affected areas across the country and provide relief to affected citizens.

Today, he will be visiting the county of Essequibo, which, according to him, has had a paddy bug infestation for a while. He said after sending a team from the Guyana Rice Development Board, yesterday afternoon, he was provided with a report as it relates to the paddy bug issue and will be addressing the matter shortly.