Georgetown, GINA, March 21, 2008.

Necessary interventions are being made to strengthen the sea defences and enhance the residential drainage capacity in the lower East Coast Demerara villages that have been affected by overtopping caused by the current Spring Tides, as the entire Caribbean Region is confronted by strong tidal wave action during this period.

At present, focus is being placed on the northern sections of Better Hope, Vryheid’s Lust and Montrose, the main areas that are affected.
Several Government Ministers including Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy have been in the communities since the early morning hours, assessing the situation and mobilising necessary interventions.
Several excavators have been deployed by the Ministry of Agriculture to clear drains and waterways that will allow the accumulated water to disperse to surrounding drainage system in Plasiance and Montrose, where it could be stored and discharged when the tides recede.
Minister Persaud explained that the residential drainage system in the affected areas cannot accommodate the excess water. The focus is to divert the water to the larger drainage system operated by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).
Personnel of the Sea Defence Unit of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications have been engaged in activities to heighten low areas affected by the overtopping.

During a television interview on the National Communications Network (NCN) today, Minister Benn pointed out that the overtopping would not have had such a severe impact if the residential drains were not restrained by garbage build-up, small culverts and encroachment on the reserves by some residents and businesses.
This has prevented the excess water from flowing effectively into the larger drainage system where it could be discharged by pumps located in surrounding communities.
Engineers have been alerted since the beginning of the Spring Tide and have been monitoring the sea defences in all districts especially at Wakenaam, Leguan and areas along the Corentyne Coast.
However, to date, there have not been any reports of these or other areas being affected by the Spring Tide except for a sluice that was damaged at Anna Catherina, but which has since been addressed.
Chief Hydrometeorological Officer Bhaleka Suelall explained that the Spring Tides are compounded by a low pressure system in the Atlantic that is generating wave action and these are responsible for the abnormal swells and excessive high tides affecting the Caribbean.

In addition, the current La Nina condition is associated with easterly gusty winds that are further aggravating the situation.
She pointed out that these events are linked to climate change and urged that Guyanese, particularly those living along the Coastland to become better aware and take necessary precautions.
Dumping of garbage into drains and waterways and occupancy and destruction of sea defences are issues that can have serious implications especially during high tides and rainy seasons.
The current Spring Tide phase is likely to last until March 25 with the highest tide expected on March 22. Residents of coastal areas and mariners are being urged to take necessary precautions during this period.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand, Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation Dr. Henry Jeffrey and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development have also been in the field assessing the situation.

A health centre has been opened at Montrose while the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has been alerted. If the need arises, additional centres at Lusignan and Plasiance will be opened.