-several interventions made
Georgetown, GINA, June 11, 2011 Advisor to the President Odinga Lumumba, Director of Sports Neil Kumar, Regional Executive Officer, Region Ten, Henry Rodney and Steve Ninvalle, Parliamentary Secretary, were among the ranks of persons that were sent into Kwakwani by the His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo to engage the residents and have a firsthand look at the situation as a result of flooding.
Kwakwani is a village on the Berbice River in the Upper Demerara-Berbice region and is located approximately 40 kilometres south of Linden.
Lamp Island, of about 60 families is seriously affected while some parts of the water front experienced flooding as well.
Speaking with the residents, Lumumba mentioned that he had the privilege of an aerial view of the situation and further noticed that in spite of the fact that the level of water in the river is high, the water was actually coming from the savannahs and flowing down, thus resulting in them being flooded.
He bemoaned the fact that throughout the world today, rivers are rising therefore; residents should relocate permanently to higher grounds or use the mechanism that the Government has in place to secure a house lot at a better location.
The Presidential Advisor told the Government Information Agency that there has been no devastation and that the farmers on Lamp Island whose crops are affected will receive assistance from Government.
The team made several interventions to ensure residents are able to continue their daily activities including providing river transportation for children to and from school, for their parents to conduct their errands and water purification supplies.
Since Monday last, a medical team has been in the area and is monitoring residents of the two areas. Lumumba said that the health team’s presence in the area will be sustained.
He said that water tanks will also be provided to ensure residents have access to clean water.
Kumar in his address informed residents of Kwakwani of the numerous development initiatives that the government has undertaken to create a better standard of living for them such as the provision of clean water, electricity and proper roads.
He indicated that 200 hampers comprising food and other supplies have been sent in to the affected areas.
Lumumba indicated that a team will return to assess the situation in Kwakwani shortly.