THE Committee appointed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the breach of the Demerara Conservancy Dam, which breach resulted in the flooding of residential and agricultural lands in Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara, is expected to submit a preliminary report by Wednesday.

“The Committee has been meeting regularly and is in a position to provide the most preliminary of reports, and I would suspect that a more formal preliminary report would be made available if not this week, by next Wednesday,” announced Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon during his weekly Post Cabinet Press briefing held at the Office of the President on Wednesday.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) reported that to date, the Committee has identified the parlous state and a number of high-risk areas of the dam. Dr. Luncheon said there has been a slight amendment to the Committee’s terms of reference for the investigation.

In addition to investigating the breach, which involves conducting soil surveys and other technical works, the team is expected to simultaneously give advice on the origin of the breach and the necessary remedial works uncovered during their investigation.

The East Demerara Conservancy Dam was breached during the early hours of November 3, last affecting some 400 people.

Government responded quickly with relief measures including food, water and health services.

The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development allocated $5M for the rehabilitation of roads damaged by the floodwaters.

The Office of the President donated $5M in emergency relief supplies and has handed out more than $13M in monetary assistance to the affected families through the Committee established by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.

During one of his many visits to the affected community, President Bharrat Jagdeo named a Committee to investigate the cause of the breach.

The members of this Committee are: Director of the Agriculture Service of the Guyana Sugar Corporation, Harold Davis Jr. (chairman); Chief River and Sea Defence Officer, George Howard; Director of Caribbean Engineering and Management Consultants, Raymond Latchmansingh; Paul Saran of the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary Agriculture Development Authority and Colonel John Lewis of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).