Heavy flooding in Lethem, other Region 9 communities… Schools closed, families evacuated as water rises

Jul 06, 2018 News

The waters are rising in Lethem, resident reported. (Aaliyah Anthony photo)

The Regional Emergency Operation Centre of Region Nine, Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo has been activated in response to flood situation.
According to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, Cabinet has been briefed on the current situation and the decision taken to use several schools as shelters for affected residents in the areas around Lethem, a town that borders with Brazil.
Harmon himself is set to visit the Region Nine communities within hours to assess the situation.
The waters are said to be coming from heavy rains in Brazil, which has spilled in the tributaries and flooding rivers.
“The Regional Emergency Operation Centre was activated today and recommended that five schools be suspended on July 5. This recommendation was made because some of the schools would have to be utilised as shelters and access to St Ignatius Primary School was inundated and challenging to traverse.
The recommendation was brought to the attention of the Minister of Education who granted permission for the schools to be closed. The schools affected are St. Ignatius Primary and St. Ignatius Secondary, Arapaima Primary, Arapaima Secondary and Culvert City Nursery,” Harmon disclosed during yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing.
A preliminary assessment conducted by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has identified aviation fuel to support emergency medical evacuations should that become necessary in remote areas, water purification tablets, water storage containers, food and beddings for residents in shelters as emergency needs of the community.
“I have been advised by the CDC that these items are available and can be deposited there at short notice,” Minister Harmon assured.
According to the Minister of State, the water levels are rising rapidly across the region and in Lethem and neighbouring communities had increased by approximately five feet between 5 am and 11 am.
On Wednesday, it was reported that 25 residents had been evacuated from their homes and housed at temporary shelters at Culvert City Nursery School, Tabatinga Community Centre and the Amerindian hostel while additional affected residents evacuated to relatives’ homes on higher ground.
Minister Harmon said that a decision has been taken for the requisite ministers to visit and make further assessments of the situation.
“Earlier this morning, the Prime Minister performing the functions of President, summoned me to a briefing. There, he gave instructions that the ministers must be dispatched to the area and of such Annette Ferguson, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure is on the ground and doing an assessment and looking at public infrastructural matters.
“I, as Minister with responsibility for the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), will be travelling to the area tomorrow to look at additional work,” Minister Harmon assured.
The Lethem town area is set in a valley area with any overtopping of the nearby Takutu River, affects the border area.
Rains from nearby mountains in Guyana and from Brazil have not been helping.
Region Nine Chairman Nine, Bryan Allicock said yesterday, that the water level continues to rise in sections of the region.
“The water is still coming in at the airstrip. Water is about two and a half to three feet deep near to the Takutu gas station,” he said.
He explained that 48 persons are being sheltered at the Arapaima Primary School, the sports complex and the Amerindian Hostel. Twenty farms in Karasabai are under water, while livestock is under threat, the Chairman said.
“The Karasaibai district is completely “cut off”.
Over the past week, heavy rains caused flooding in the South Pakaraimas, Deep South, and Central Rupununi areas. Alternative routes, between communities of Katoonarib to Karaudarnauwa, were identified so that residents and vehicles can travel safely to their destinations.
Annually during the dry season, the Rupununi experiences drought. This has been mitigated with the construction of reservoirs and the drilling of several wells.

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