Aranguez farmers count losses

Roberts said while the region was not among the hardest hit in the country, many of its residents still suffered huge losses in the wake of Bret.

“In San Juan/Laventille we have gotten some licks but I have to thank God that it could have been worse,” he said during a tour of the Aranguez/Warner Village electoral district, where farmers lost thousands of dollars worth of crops.

Almost one week after Bret’s passage, farm lands along William Trace, near the El Socorro South Pump, yesterday remained submerged in murky water due to an overflow from a large tributary of the Caroni River. The problem was exacerbated by heavy rainfall on Friday.

Rakesh Dulchan, who has been a farmer for all of his life, told Sunday Newsday his family has incurred thousands of dollars worth in cucumbers, bhaji and other produce because of the flooding and called on the authorities to devise a lasting solution to the problem.

Roberts led a team to the site, which included Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein, Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan, project manager of the Programme for Upgrading Roads Efficiency Hayden Phillips and councillors.

Roberts said representatives from various state agencies were on the field doing assessments along corporation staff and cadets, whom he said, have volunteered their services.

“We are working with the (National) Self-Help Commission who are also in the field doing their surveys to bring relief by the end of next week,” he said.

Roberts said the roofs of some 36 houses in the region were blown off during Bret while a number of trees fell across the roadways “We have taken care of all of that. So all the roads are passable now.

But by the end of (the) week, people should be getting some relief from the Government.” Regarding flooding in William Street, Roberts said efforts were being made to address the plight of the farmers.

“This is a work in progress for us and we are collaborating with the Ministry of Works to bring relief to people down here,” he said.

Amrit Sooknanan, councillor for Aranguez/ Warner Village, said flooding in that part of his electoral district was a major issue.

“Throughout the San Juan/Laventille region we have that large flow of water coming in from the Caroni River,” he said.

“And we have suffered two burst banks (in El Socorro South).

So with the rise of the tide the river is not getting to go out to the sea.

This is something that will continue to happen if we don’t find the solution now.

“The solution is to get the temporary pumps, fix back the banks and dredge the river to accommodate .

more of the water.” Saying there were about 300 registered farmers in the area, Sooknanan is hoping that many of them will be compensated for their losses through the relief fund.

“Some of them went down to the agricultural estate office in Curepe to put through their complaints and we are taking things one step at a time,” he said. “I told them to put through the complaints and we would try to strengthen it up afterwards and see how we could get a resolution.

“The Minister of Agriculture and the Prime Minister said they will grant a certain amount of resources to recover certain things. I am not sure how far it will go but it is some form of assistance.” Sinanan assured that temporary pumps will be brought into the area to assist with drainage.

“The plan is that once the water level drops we are going to get as much water out as possible. Once we get some low tide and most of the water drain, we will get most of the water out,” he said.

“The challenge with flood waters is that you have to wait for the waters to subside.

There is nothing much you can do. “We have equipment, we have everything but if we pump this water now, it will just get back in at the low-lying areas.

There is a lot of work to be done after the water goes down.” Roberts praised his councillors, whom he said, support one-another unconditionally despite political affiliation.

“When is election time we focus on our particular parties to ensure that we win and after the election we know that we have to come together because all of us have to serve the people of San Juan/ Laventille,” he said.

“I hope that all of the other corporations would follow. It eh have no UNC and no PNM at this stage. The focus is on the people of the region.”