GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Dec 24 2016 – Guyana is bracing for more rains and floods with the National Weather Watch Centre predicting heavy rainfall over the next seven days.
The centre in a statement Saturday, said that up to 80 mm of rainfall is expected in some regions and that on Christmas Day, 15 to 55 mm of rainfall is expected.
The rains begun on Friday causing widespread flooding and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, in a statement empathized with citizens who have been affected by the unusually heavy deluge.
“Many persons are affected at this time just before Christmas and I ask residents to remain patient and cooperative with the authorities so that relief can be had as quickly as possible even as the water recedes slower than usual given the large volume of water which has accumulated and compounded by the nip tide,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo said.
But he described as “unsatisfactory” that the Hydrometerological Service is not yet able to adequately provide accurate forecasts to forewarn citizens of the likelihood and possibility of flooding.
He said the HydroMet Service’s forecast of “scattered showers” on Thursday evening and “occasional showers” early Friday were misleading and left citizens without accurate information allowing them to take the necessary precautions and allowing agencies to act pre-emptively.
Prime Minister Nagamootoo recalled that this situation of the HydroMet Office not forewarning citizens of flooding has existed for several years and most recently there were episodes in December 2014 and June 2015.
“Floods cause economic dislocation, damage and losses and the HydroMet Office cannot afford to be casual about these matters,” Nagamootoo said.
Meanwhile, the government said it is monitoring the situation, and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure is putting in place measures to address any emergency. The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is also on standby.
Teams from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure have conducted physical assessments of pumps in Georgetown to determine flood intervention measures which can be implemented in response to Friday’s three to four inches of rainfall.
The government statement said that concerns were raised on the ongoing high tide and the effect it could have on the flood intervention efforts.
“While normally sluices can be opened for up to six hours, with the high tide in effect, this time is cut down to about three hours,” the statement noted, adding that “efforts are being made to ensure that fuel is available for all operable pumps to guarantee continual work and the Ministry is also collaborating with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown”.
Meanwhile, the authorities are urging residents to remain patient and to also make necessary preparations, adding that residents are also advised that sandbags are available at the Kitty pump station.
