Residents of Cane Grove, Mahaica, recently affected by floods due to a breach in the East Demerara Conservancy Dam, have begun receiving monetary assistance promised by central government.

The assistance was pledged by President Bharrat Jagdeo after he viewed the conditions several residents had to endure with water as high as five feet in some areas.

Speaking at the commissioning of the new Virginia Primary School at Cane Grove, Mahaica, yesterday, President Jagdeo stated that some $6.1 million had been paid out thus far to residents of the area.

These payments which commenced on Wednesday, and which are slated to continue in the coming days, are to persons who have claims up to $30,000.

Others, including those farmers who lost produce, will receive their payments once further investigations are carried out to determine the accuracy of their claims.

Head of the assessment team, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Regional Development, Pulandar Kandhi, told reporters that out of the 570 persons interviewed, 470-odd had received their cheques.

The others, he stated, are expected to receive their cheques by the end of the week once the evaluation process is concluded. Most of the recipients of monetary awards were given assistance for losses sustained as a result of water damage to their household items.

Chairman of the Cane Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Harry Algu, told this newspaper that the village has not yet been visited by the team investigating the cause of the breach.

The NDC, he stated, has sought an audience with the President to give its views as to the likely cause of the November 3 breach. President Jagdeo confirmed in his address at the school's commissioning that the investigation into the breach was still ongoing and likely to be completed by year end.

Meanwhile, life seems to have returned to normal in the village. Rice fields once heavily flooded showed signs of life as the new rice growing season commences.

In addition, most of the outfalls and canals have been cleaned and cleared of debris as work continued on desilting the irrigation canals in preparation for the rice season.