CDC continues needs/damage assessment on Essequibo Islands
DPI, Guyana, Friday, October 4, 2019
The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Thursday, dispatched a team to the islands of Wakenaam and Leguan following reports of flooding and overtopping. The team has been tasked to conduct a damage and needs assessment of the affected areas.
The team was led by CDC Operations Officer, Lt. Lakshman Persaud who was updated on the situation by the Chairman of the Wakenaam Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Sheikh Ahmed.
While several communities were affected by the unprecedented spring tides, there was no significant impact on the island’s agriculture lands. This was due to the irrigation systems which were put in place.
“Because of our good drainage system that Wakenaam has, in conjunction with the National Drainage and Irrigation Board for the last 12 to 14 years, these waters would run into the main trench to take them off as soon as the tide is off. But you would have water on the land for at least 6 hours as long as the tide is high, until the water moves off from the trench,” Ahmed explained.
While on the ground, it was observed that maintenance and repair works were being carried out on parts of the island’s sea defence in preparation for the next spring tide on Saturday, October 26, 2019.
The CDC team also visited several areas around Wakenaam, where they interacted with affected residents. They then visited the island of Leguan and conducted a similar assessment.
The preliminary exercised showed that residents who were most affected by the overtopping resided near the sea defence.
The Government of Guyana, through the Civil Defence Commission, continues to monitor the situation across the country and is rendering assistance where necessary.