Residents living at Peter’s Hall and Providence, East Bank Demerara, early Thursday morning woke up to floodwaters in their yards and homes, a situation blamed on a faulty sluice door.
The deplorable sluice door at Providence collapsed around 02:00h, leading to seawater inundating over 200 households.
After learning of the incident, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and other senior officials and engineers attached to the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) visited the area to conduct an assessment at approximately 03:45hrs.
Minister Mustapha explained that the door collapsed as a result of the tide and that engineers from the NDIA were on site working to address the situation and bring relief to those affected.
“A contractor was also engaged and installed stop logs until a new stainless-steel door is fabricated and installed to replace the damaged wooden door.
“A pump will also be on site until the new door is installed. Additionally, the stop logs will be operated during the low tide to facilitate gravity drainage to compliment the pump,” Minister Mustapha explained.
He added that the local Regional Democratic Council (RDC) is responsible for maintaining the structure, pointing out that it appeared this was not being done regularly.
“The operation and maintenance of this structure fall under the RDC. From my observation, the structure was not being maintained as it should be. I will now have to sit with the NDIA and the other authorities to determine a way forward.
“We cannot continue like this so the NDIA may have to assist with operating and maintaining this structure as well. We cannot have the lives and wellbeing of our citizens threatened because those in charge are neglecting their responsibilities,” he added.
Because the flood started during the early morning hours, persons had to move swiftly to get furniture and appliances to higher grounds.
