The May/June rainy season in Guyana usually lasts until the end of July or mid-August and this year, it is expected to be no different, Chief Meteorological Officer Dr Garvin Cummings told the News Room on Tuesday.
Dr Cummings related that all water gauges and stations are being maintained to monitor the current weather conditions.
“We also have the Doppler water radar fully operational, this is what we use to monitor local weather conditions,” Dr Cummings said.
Meanwhile, in a statement released by the Office of the Prime Minister, Dr Cummings submitted in his report that rainfall over the last few days has been excessive and indicated that Region Five had the most rainfall (five inches) within 24-hours.
Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips urged residents in flood-affected areas and every other citizen to properly dispose of their garbage to mitigate against flooding.
The Prime Minister, who heads the National Task Force on Flooding, held a meeting on Monday evening to assess the current flooding situation.
According to the statement, during the meeting, the Prime Minister revealed that drains and canals continue to be clogged with garbage and unnecessary items and this he noted can exacerbate problems during the rainy season.
The task force is working through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC); the Ministry of Agriculture via the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Hydrometeorological Service; the Ministry of Housing and Water; and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
During the meeting, it was revealed that operations have been ongoing since the first reports of heavy rainfall over the last two days.
Prime Minister Phillips indicated that while pumps are being installed and excavators are cleaning waterways, residents must do their part to ensure that they are prepared for flood impacts.
Other members of the Taskforce, including Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha and Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal also offered comments on the ongoing works to assist residents.
Minister Mustapha stated that Regions Five and Two are the most significantly impacted areas along the coastland.
In Region Five, about 70 per cent of the water receded due to consistent drainage and cleaning operations, Mustapha said.
In Region Two, the dredging of a few rivers, including the Pomeroon River, is high on the agenda to alleviate future flooding. Resources have been mobilised in that region so that relief works can begin as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Minister Croal noted that works are also ongoing in Region Nine and that potable water is accessible once again to affected households.
He said that although the water level is still rising, the team on the ground has been working around the clock to ensure that people get the needed help. Three shelters were established in the region and food supplies will be distributed by the CDC.
Residents are being asked to remain cautious during this time.
The Taskforce, via the relevant agencies and ministries, will monitor the developing situation continuously and provide updates as they are available. Persons are encouraged to remain vigilant and cautious during this rainy season and to report any impacts to local authorities or the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) on 600-7500 or 226-1114.
