EMERGENCY efforts yesterday to seal the breach in the Conservancy Dam at Cane Grove, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara have progressed significantly, and from all indications, the work should be completed sometime this morning.

The installation of piles was expected to be finished by midnight last night as an emergency team worked round the clock to seal the breach and prevent further flooding in the area.

Inspections of the breach around 10:30 hrs and 16:00 hrs yesterday revealed that the emergency response team was working feverishly driving piles and laying sheeting to reduce the flow of water from the Conservancy.

The contractors said that the breach is some ten meters wide. They have being working continuously to bring relief to the suffering residents. The contractors’ initial projection was that the breach could be closed by 15:00 hrs yesterday. But this was later pushed back to 16:00 hrs and then to 18:00 hrs last evening as factors, including the high tide, hindered the work.

It was reported late last night by the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the 18:00 hrs time-line could not be met and that the breach will be sealed sometime this morning.

Around 10:30 hrs yesterday, the piles were already in place and at 16:00 hrs, the workers had already placed sheeting piles in their committed effort to create the seal.

When President Bharrat Jagdeo visited the area around 16:00 hrs yesterday for the second time in two successive days, his initial reaction was that it was unlikely that the breach would have been temporarily closed by last night. This morning’s deadline was a more ‘realistic assessment’ he is reported to have said.

However, the high-level team monitoring the situation, and other officials on the ground assured him that based on the pace at which the work is being carried out, it was very likely that the breach would be closed by last evening. The workers on site said a sheet pile is installed every 10 minutes, on average.

The President has ordered a full investigation into the breach, while the Government has also set up an Emergency Committee, consisting key Cabinet Ministers and others, to bring relief to some 4,000 affected residents in Cane Grove.

Mr. Jagdeo assured residents yesterday that Government is working feverishly to get the situation under control.

“Our immediate priority is to seal the breach and take care of people,” President Jagdeo told residents when he first visited the flooded area on Saturday. And yesterday, he reiterated that concern.

He gave the firm assurance yesterday that an investigation into the collapse of the Conservancy has already begun, and he made it clear that those responsible will have to pay for the damage.

“We will take care of you,” was the message the President took to the affected residents as he waded through water above his knees on Saturday. His presence in the area yesterday, his hands-on approach to the situation and his inter-action with residents, gave added credence to this message.

And even as residents had begun to secure what remained of their cash crops and livestock, others were voluntarily evacuating the area.

Mr. Motilall Sahadeo, also known as ‘Tony’, and his family yesterday voluntarily evacuated his flooded one-flat home at Coconut Dam, Cane Grove.

Sahadeo, his wife and four children, the eldest of whom is five, packed a few belongings into two handbags and set off to the home of his mother-in-law at Houston, East Bank Demerara. The distraught cane-cutter said he and his family will return when the water recedes.

Some residents indicated their willingness to move out of the area until the water recedes. President Jagdeo told them that arrangements are already in place to relocate them to the Women’s Leadership Institute at Cove and John, East Coast Demerara.

Reports indicate that some 40 persons, including women and children, were moved to the Institute. One hundred cots were made available at the Cove and John facility for those persons who had no place to sleep, since water was in their homes.

And GINA last night said malicious reports claiming that pregnant women and children are trapped in the area are untrue, as members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) are on standby to transport persons wanting to move out of the area at a moment’s notice.

President Jagdeo reiterated the Government’s intention to assist the villagers. Many residents told the Guyanese Head of State that they do not want to leave their homes, but would be grateful for food hampers. He assured them that hampers will be made available.

However, scores of other persons were seen scrambling to salvage items from the cash crops and livestock. They were removing their belongings away from the waters and into safer places.

Farmers went again to their farms yesterday to see what they could retrieve. But they were unlucky because the waters had risen by another six to eight inches. The water level yesterday was some four feet six inches high, and officials projected that it is very unlikely that the water would recede before the end of the week.

Residents were very vocal in their candid criticism of the contractors responsible for shoring up the Conservancy Dam, which they said was breached at around 3:00 hrs (3 a.m.) on Saturday.

Villagers claimed the Conservancy Dam, the level of which was recently raised, was not built to standard and it was only a matter of time before it was breached.

Some 150 sheet piles were transported by pontoon to the breach site, where the contractor, B&K International, was operating with a dragline and excavator.

A hymac was also in operation since Saturday, breaking away dams to allow the water to flow out into the Atlantic.

Chickens sought refuge on roofs, as their coops were no longer available. As some residents wondered where their ducks and fowls would head, others could be seen transporting their livestock by canoes to areas not affected by the flood.

Late on Saturday, members of the Emergency Committee were busy making notes on the situation of affected residents. Yesterday, the members were trying to locate those residents hardest hit by the flood to offer them immediate relief. The Committee has already submitted a list of essential food items to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC). The necessary items were taken into the affected communities yesterday.

Meanwhile, the GDF team has deployed four tents in a nearby community ground. An army official said they were preparing lunch for the Cane Grove residents and will be distributing foodstuff yesterday afternoon.

The medical team, located at the Virginia Primary School in Manager’s Line, Cane Grove, has also started attending to some residents, mostly children. Dr. Janice Woolford, Director of the Maternal and Child Health Department of the Ministry of Health, said they are prepared to immunise both the children and adults should the need arise.

Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy yesterday said no critical health problem is anticipated but they are prepared to deal with the expected illnesses that are common when flooding occurs. These include diarrhoea, itches and punctured wounds.

He said the First Aid Centre is at the Virginia Primary School, but residents would be referred to a higher level of health care if necessary. The Health team also has a bell to alert residents to places where they can access help.

The Army is also on standby to transport patients to the Georgetown Hospital if needed. Chairman of the Community Policing Group, Mr. Makebarran Ramdin, said they have examined an alternative route to enter Cane Grove through the back dam (backlands) in case the roads become inaccessible.

Minister of Local Government Mr. Harripersaud Nokta said that the Virginia Primary School would also be used as a Coordinating Centre for the emergency relief activities.

In the meantime, the residents are accessing potable water from eight black tanks and a Region Three Water Browser.

GUYWA’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Karran Singh said each of the eight tanks holds about 450 gallons of water and the Water Browser, which holds about 2,500 gallons, replenishes the tanks as soon as they are emptied.

He said, too, that GUYWA, in collaboration with the Health Ministry, will be distributing flyers on the methods of purifying the water.

Singh also expressed disappointment with GPL regarding the power outage, noting that without power, the pumps can’t work.

Public Works Minister, Mr. Anthony Xavier; Agriculture Minister, Mr. Navin Chandarpal; Housing and Water Minister, Mr. Shaik Baksh; Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon and other senior Government officials were among the high level delegation that visited the area yesterday.

The residents had high praises for Government’s quick response and initiative in dealing with the situation.

Chandarpal said the biggest problem affecting the work yesterday was power outage by the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) since about 11:00 hrs yesterday morning. He explained that the electrical pumps in the area could not be used because of an extended power outage. Three mechanical pumps are being used as substitutes, but they are not as effective as the electrical equipment.