10 NEWS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Houston residents flooded after trench blocked
One of the affected residents, Roopnarine (only name)
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trench blocked to facilitate works at Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Monday caused severe flooding for residents, following hours of heavy rainfall. In the early morning hours, a period of heavy rain caused more than one
crete piles have been blocking the water from draining, causing inundation. One resident, Roopnarine (only name) told this publication that this was the second time they were facing flooding since the works began. After failed efforts to bail out the floodwaters, they contacted authorities. An opening was made to channel the floodwaters into the trench. “This is the second time we had to call them to open back the waterway, because our place is flooded. If that waterway is going to be blocked permanently, we are going to be flooded all the time, ‘cause this water ain’t get anywhere to go,” the affected resident noted. The elderly man explained that he has lived in the area for 63 years -and they have never faced such problems before. While the plan is to build a culvert to allow drainage, he said the
The blocked trench
foot of water to accumulate in the yards of residents. It then entered several houses, creating a frenzy as persons tried to bail out their homes. Guyana Times visited the community, where con-
water would move downhill, so this move was irrational. “This water is running by gravity in a slope. It can’t run up back. They building a culvert at the top. They didn’t build it as yet, but they start to do the
Residents experienced severe inundation other work. So now that the rain come, our whole place flooding all the time, right through the whole line of houses,” he related. Roopnarine said the only option during such flooding was to prevent the water from entering their homes, which is sometimes an impossible feat. “We’re in a disaster area here now and this affecting the entire street plus people at the other community. This trench is draining the entire community,” he shared. Meanwhile, another resident, Mohamed Chunilall told this publication that another major problem for the village was irrigation. There is a rain drain in close proximity to the roadway that is filled with inches of sand and debris. When the land started to flood on Monday, he left his market stall and came to the rescue of neighbours who were tremendously affected. “They get damages steady. Our yard don’t flood because it’s high, but ev-
ery time their yard is flooded, we got to dedicate ourselves to help them clean up. I close up my stall at the market to come and give
them a hand to clean up,” Chunilall explained. Residents are calling on the relevant authorities to look into the matter to
bring some form of relief. Losses for these households are pegged at millions. (G12)
Berbice labourer robbed by cutlass-wielding bandit
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21-year-old labourer of No 58 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was on Sunday evening relieved of his mobile phone and cash while heading home from a party by a cutlass-wielding bandit who is known to the victim. The incident reportedly took place at First Street, No 58 Backdam, at about 21:00h on the day in question. Based on reports received, the victim, Eric Haripersaud, and the suspect are known to each other. However, on the night in question, the victim was walking towards his home after leaving a birthday party when the suspect, who was armed with a cutlass, attacked him from behind.
The suspect reportedly placed the cutlass to Haripersaud’s neck and relieved him of his mobile phone that he was holding in his hands. After doing so, he allegedly pushed his hands into the victim’s right-side pants pocket and took out $15,000 that he had in his wallet. After relieving the young man of his personal items, the suspect revealed his identity to him. Upon seeing his face, the suspect reportedly chopped the victim to his neck. In trying to defend himself, Haripersaud then picked up a piece of wood and as he advanced towards the suspect, the well-known taxi driver made good his escape.
An alarm was raised and the victim’s friends rushed to his assistance during which he told them of what had transpired. He was taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital where he was examined and treated by a doctor on duty. A report was subsequently made to the Springlands Police Station. The police immediately went to the suspect’s home where he was told of the allegation, cautioned and arrested. A search was conducted at his home for the stolen cell phone and cash but none was found. The suspect remains in custody at the No 51 Police Station assisting with the investigation.
