Mosquitoes invade New Amsterdam and environs again
By Daniel Da Costa
Stabroek News
May 26, 2003
The advent of the rainy season has again been accompanied by a large scale invasion of mosquitoes in New Amsterdam, its environs and sections of East Bank Berbice, West Berbice, East and West Canje and lower Corentyne.
This latest attack comes as seasonal rainfall is playing havoc with drainage systems, inter-lot drains, garbage dumps and the surrounding areas, providing ideal breeding conditions.
Mosquito infestation has been a perennial problem for New Amsterdamers and many Berbicians who live along the banks of the Berbice and Canje Rivers and those close to Crab Island just off the mouth of the Canje River.
The mosquitoes launch their attacks at least three to four times per year causing widespread discomfort, agitation, inconvenience, and concerns about a disease outbreak as well as a business downturn.
Yet there has been no long-term preventive plan to deal with this age-old problem. The New Amsterdam Town Council continues to be hampered by an ongoing cash-flow problem, which has restricted its operations and reduced its effectiveness.
Mayor Claude Henry told this newspaper on Thursday that "the Council was discussing the situation with a view to coming up with some plan to address the problem."
He however hinted that the Council was in an awkward financial situation and was exploring the possibility of soliciting assistance from the business community.
According to Henry, it costs the Council approximately $30,000 for each fogging exercise undertaken. The Council has one large Motan fogging machine and two motor blowers.
Stabroek News understands that some members of the business community are to be approached for financial assistance to purchase diesel and malathion to be used in the fogging exercise.
The cost of a drum of diesel is around $13,000 while malathion is quoted at $600 per half litre.
The Council has come under heavy criticism over recent years for its apparent tardiness in dealing with the mosquito nuisance. But from all indications over the years it appears as if the problem may have grown beyond the control of the cash-strapped Council.
The gnats launch major attacks early in the mornings and shortly after dusk at nights.
Everywhere people can be seen slapping various parts of their bodies in an effort to kill the bloodsuckers.
Some burn bits and pieces of almost everything including environmentally harmful plastics and foam containers in their yards, outside or inside their shops and in close proximity to roadside stalls. Others are forced to use repellents to protect themselves from bites.
The invasion has impacted on almost every conceivable sphere of activity including business, education and sport.
At the Berbice High School on the northwestern edge of the town, teachers and students have been forced to burn mosquito coils and use repellents in an attempt to keep the insects from the classrooms and offices.
Students sitting the CXC examinations are forced to spray the rooms prior to each exam.
Several other public and private institutions have been similarly affected.
President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association [BCC&DA], Gurdat Marray said on Friday the mosquitoes were a nuisance and should be dealt with as a matter of urgency.
He noted that a number of businesses were being affected and was hopeful that the Council would commence fogging as soon as possible. However up to Friday neither he nor any other member of the Chamber had been approached by the Council for assistance in purchasing diesel or malathion.
A senior Ministry of Health official in the region responding to calls for the Ministry to assist in the fogging exercise reiterated that it was the responsibility of the Council to do so.
The official noted that the Ministry has only one fogging machine, which has to serve other areas in the country.
He explained that to effectively control the gnats fogging with diesel and malathion must be carried out for two to three hours in the mornings and at dusk for three consecutive days.
"Fogging must be done between 5 am and 7 am and between 6 pm and 8 pm if the mosquitoes are to be controlled."
The Ministry last October assisted the Council in a fogging exercise during a similar invasion. The following month there was yet another attack on New Amsterdam and its environs.
Some Berbicians say that the banks of the Berbice and Canje Rivers and Crab Island are major breeding grounds for the gnats which hatch at every high tide.
Others posit than the number of vacant lots with huge overgrowth, clogged drains, indiscriminate dumping of garbage, unkempt garbage dumps and dirty and stagnant water all contribute towards creating the perfect environment for mosquitoes to breed.
