Georgetown, GINA, January 05, 2004

Due to the present heavy rainfall in many of the regions recently, residents in some areas have complained of being affected by floods while others in a few regions welcomed the rain.
The Government Information Agency spoke to the Regional Administration of the various regions for an update on the effect of the rainfall.
In Region One (Barima/Waini), farmers along the Aruka, Waini and Barima Rivers complained about floodwater severely affecting their farms.
The farms are located along the riverbanks and the Regional administration noted that there is not much they could do but wait until the rainfall ceases.
Region Two reported no flooding and the Regional Executive Officer, Nandkishore Persaud, reiterated that due to the large amount of money spent on drainage and irrigation there in 2003, the rainfall has not affected the Region .
He also stated that if flooding occurs, drainage pumps have already been placed at key areas to handle it.
In Region Three there is some flooding in areas like Harlem, Vergenoegen\ Greenidge Park, and Parika/Ruby due to high tides.
However, it was noted that no major flooding had occurred in Leguan and Wakenaam.
Regional Chairman of Region Four, Alan Munroe, stated that water accumulated in some areas has been receding but there are concerns that some water has been seeping in from behind the Conservancy Dam in the backlands of Clonbrook.
Region Five has been experiencing heavy flooding especially in Mahaica and other inland areas and the Regional Democratic Council has been in contact with the various Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) to ensure that there is a free flow of water.
In Region Six ( East Berbice/ Corentyne), Community Relations Officer, Faizal Jaffarally, pointed out that the region welcomes the rain and that some farmers, especially those in the Black Bush Polder area, need the rain as they are now planting their crops. So far, no flooding has occurred there.
Region Seven and Eight had no reported cases of flooding but an official of the Regional Administration of Region Seven said there has been no information from the Upper and Middle Mazaruni areas as to whether the heavy rainfall has been affecting them.
He observed that Bartica has not been subjected to flooding and that all drains in that region were properly cleaned.
Regions Nine and Ten also disclosed that those Regions have not been affected by the rainfall.