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Some farmers of flood-hit Mahaicony Creek are contemplating leaving the area, while others fear that their properties may be seized by lending agencies because they are unable to repay their loans.
The farmers expressed these fears on Saturday when Executive Members of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, Mrs. Sheila Holder and Mrs. Gaumatie Singh, visited the community to distribute flood relief hampers and to have a firsthand look at the crisis.
According to some farmers, flooding in the community has worsened during the past 10 or 12 years.
They said that as soon as they try to recover by taking loans to replant, the area would be flooded again.
“Many of us have properties that are at very high risk of being seized by the bank and lending agencies, and the government did not even make a move to help us to come to some reasonable solution to get out of this mess,” one farmer said.
“I don't believe that all the flooding we have in this area came from the rainfall. Some is due to the negligence of officials and these persons must be held responsible for some of our losses and punishment.”
Another farmer said that over 50 acres of his rice is completely destroyed and he already utilized more than 1,000 gallons of fuel in an effort to save the rest.
He believes that even though some crops might be saved, they will not make any profit because so much is spent on trying to save them.
“I will try and save some of my crops but what about those persons who don't have millions left to invest in saving theirs?” he asked.
“I think that after this flooding a serious change will be experienced in this area, either many farmers will leave or they will be forced to leave knowing that they don't have the finances to replant their crops.
“The contribution and visit by AFC has helped because listening to the plight of the people and helping them to find solutions to their problems has restored some hope in us today.”
Yet another farmer who has lost millions due to the floods said many of the cattle, especially the calves, are stranded on small areas of land surrounded by flood waters and as a result they will die.
He said over 50 acres of his crops are already destroyed and over 30 calves died. He anticipates more losses in a few more days.
“This is serious suffering the people in this area are going through. It will be very difficult to pull ourselves out of this disaster. I have to spend over $1,500 a day just to send my child to a secondary school.
“Tell me how we can manage this when so very often our livelihoods are destroyed by the floods.
I think a lot more can be done by the government to prevent this flooding or even reduce it to an extent and I also think that they can do much more to help us at this point in time.”
They alleged that only once have officials from the Government visited the area since the floods began.
They were reportedly given $100,000 which they think is inadequate, considering their losses amount to millions.
“The $100,000 compensation cannot even help us save our crops much less to help us replant or get back on track,” one man said.
“At the moment we are concerned with having the water drained out of the area and none of that was discussed by the government official who visited.
“They just come in and try to fool us by giving the money but they should have estimated our losses and then come in” one farmer said.
The residents thanked the AFC executive members for the hampers and some remarked that at least somebody has their concerns in mind.
Farmers are also complaining about the poorly maintained drainage systems in the area and additional water which they think was drained into the area from another area or possibly the conservancy.
“The members of AFC really impressed us…they don't have the resources and finances that are available to the government and yet they can come and help us.”
The residents said they are also encountering several other problems in the area.
AFC Executive Member Khemraj Ramjattan said the AFC will be following the flood closely and immediate arrangements will be made to distribute more relief to the residents who are severely affected.
He pointed out that the AFC will also be visiting the area again since the interest and concerns of the people of Guyana are a first priority.
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