CDC distributes relief supplies to Pomeroon residents

This Civil Defence Commission (CDC) distributed relief supplies in several areas of the Pomeroon which were affected by flooding due to seasonal rains and high tides, even as they conducted an assessment to explore long-term solutions to the situation.  

The CDC’s visit followed closely on the heels of Prime Minister Hon. Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips and Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha’s outreach to Charity on Tuesday for a first-hand look at the situation.

CDC’s Senior Response Officer, Captain Salim October said the team checked several areas, including the housing scheme, the squatting area and Charity central where 180 persons were given hampers. An additional 598 packages were left with the Neighbourhood Democratic Council for distribution to other affected residents.

The Charity squatting area, which lacks basic amenities like electricity, potable water and access roads, bore the brunt of the flooding. These challenges, coupled with a pervasive littering problem, the recent heavy rains and high tides left residents inundated.

The CDC also travelled to the Upper Pomeroon where 77 persons at Dredge Creek received hampers as did 50 in Siriki, 55 at Abrams Creek and 40 in Lower Jacklow. Bottled water was also given to residents of Cross Canal.  Relief items were also distributed at Cozier Canal and other parts of the Lower Pomeroon River.

The CDC team also distributed 200 cleaning hampers to residents, health centres and schools at Kabakaburi which is under lockdown to curb the transmission of Covid. 

Captain October said the CDC assessment revealed that the current flooding in these areas was as a result of the December-January rains. He noted that flooding occurs often in the Pomeroon area and the biggest challenge is the impact on the farmlands.

Captain October said the Health and Agriculture Ministers are also assessing the situation.