No break expected in the weather
-Met Office
Stabroek News
January 3, 2004
There is not expected to be much let-up in the rainy weather over the next two weeks, according to Dilip Jaigopaul, head of the Meteorological Office.
At a press conference yesterday, he reported that stations in Regions Two, Three and Four had recorded 50-70 mm, or 2-3 inches of rainfall every day since December 27.
He said that Regions Three, Four, Five and Six had had above normal rainfall of 5% to 30% with Region Four having the largest amounts. His forecast for January noted that though there would be less rainfall than in December it would be steady over the next two weeks. Additionally Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Six, Seven, and Ten will be moderately wet, Region Eight should be wet and Region Nine generally dry. Jaigopaul also warned of thunderstorms accompanying high intensity rainfall.
The effects of all this rain are being felt with flooding along the coast and Ravi Narine, Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Board told reporters, "Added to this we are experiencing spring tides which means that water is coming from the back including the conservancy dam."
He said pumps were operating at Cane Grove, Strathspey, Hope Estate, Victoria, Enmore and Triumph B/V on a 24-hour basis.
He said that the excess water was expected to recede by Monday providing the rainfall slowed.
Guysuco also has pumps in operation at Ogle, Le Ressouvenir, Montrose, Good Hope, Hope, Foulis and Annandale.
Chairman of the Region Four Democratic Council, Allan Munroe said he had made a special visit to the Ministry of Finance to get funds released early to start some of the rectification works.
Minister of Agriculture, Satyadeow Sawh who hosted the press conference said the ministry was looking at every way to get the excess water off the land before considering relief to residents. He added that they visited six areas and found all pumps working.